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THE

STATE AND POSITION

WESTERN AUSTRALIA;

COMMONLY CALLED

THE SWAN-RIVER SETTLEMENT.

By captain FRED^^ CHIDLEY IRWIN,
OF H.M. G-^RD REGIMENT; LATE COMMANDANT OF THE TROOPS, AND
ACTING GOVERNOR OF THE COLONY.

LONDON:
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' COURT;
AND J. CROSS, 18, HOLBORN.

MDCCCXXXV.

ERRATUM.
, At the bottom of page 133, after the words " engage for
raising the sum q/"100Z.," insert the word "annually."

Eih. y:j5~

TO GENERAL
THE RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE MURRAY,
G.C.B., &c. &c. &c.
Sir,
In doing myself the honour of dedicating this
publication to you, I am influenced not only by
feelings of personal respect, but also by considera
tions of a public nature.
To your discrimination, when presiding over the
Colonial Department, the Settlement of Western
Australia owes its origin. After years of misre
presentation, the peculiar excellence of the soil and
climate is now confessed ; and experience is daily
proving the singular fitness of that region for sup
porting a flourishing community.
Among the distinguished services which you have
rendered to your country in the Field, the Senate,

iv DEDICATION.
and the Cabinet, the formation of a Colony which
seems destined to rise to no ordinary erainence,
will not be regarded by posterity as the least
valuable. With a grateful recollection of the uniform kind
ness I have experienced at your hands, since the
period of my appointment to the command of the
troops employed in establishing the Settlement,
I have the honour to be.
Sir,
Your very faithful
And obedient servant,
F. C. IRWIN.
London, July \Ath, 1835.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
Introduction— Motives of the Writer— Sources of Information— De
scription of the Country, Soil, Climate, Natural Productions,
Pasturage, Seasons— Favourable Reports of the Interior— Fisheries
— Harbours— Political and Commercial Advantages— Table of
Sailing Distances &c  J'age 1

CHAPTER II.
The Aborigines : Food, Clothing, Huts, &c. — Character— Natives of
the Murray River — Recent Encounter — Mounted Police — Tend
ency of Penal Settlements — Native Claims — A Treaty recom
mended — Appeal for Missionaries  22

CHAPTER III.
Misstatements in recent Publications — Mr. Peel's Grant — Causes of
early Failures — Origin of many injurious Reports— Instance of
a Settler seriously misled by them — Want of Money — High
Prices of Provisions — Want of Storehouses — Free Grants, Tend
ency of — Remedies in Progress  32

VI

CHAPTER IV.

First Difficulties of the Colony surmounted — Fremantle — Perth —
Guildford— Land and Water Communication — Canal — Principal
Farms on the Swan River — The Canning — York District —
Murray River — Port Leschenault — Vasse's Inlet — Port
Augusta — The Blackwood — King George's Sound .... page 48
CHAPTER V.
General State of Society — Indentured Servants — Aborigines — Native
Institution — Sagacity of Two Natives — Intercourse among the
Agriculturists — Female Society — Settlers &c. in the Towns — Free
Institutions — Trial by Jury  76
CHAPTER VI.
Latest Accounts — Agricultural Society's Report — Increase of Stock —
Superior Breeds — Sheep Farming — Wool — Wheat — KaflFre-Corn
— Oat-Hay — Hops — Fruits — Vegetables — Timber-Trees &c. —
Bees — Flour-Mills — Brewing — Revenue &c. &c  85

CHAPTER VII.
India— Colonization Company formed at Calcutta — Views of the Share
holders — Loss of the Mercury — Interest excited at Calcutta and
Madras — Rearing of Horses for the India Market — Remount of
British Cavalry at Madras, procured from Sydney — Position of
Swan River — Its superior Advantages for that TraflSc  97

CHAPTER VIII.
Colonization — Colonel Napier and the " Self-supporting Principle " —
Mistaken Policy pointed out — Article on Colonization in Arch
bishop Whately's Work  103
CHAPTER IX.
A few concluding Hints to Emigrants  113

APPENDIX.
No. I. Table of Variations of the Thermometer and Barometer,
at Perth  1-25
No. II. Meteorological Journal of King George's Sound  126
No. III. Reports of Physicians  ib.
No. IV. Captain Preston's Report on the Harbours &c  128
No. v. Swan-River Mission  132
No. VI. Proposals for the Erection of a Church and Parsonage
at Augusta, Western Australia  1:34
No. VII. Native Institution  ib.
No. VIII. Extraordinary Recovery of a Child by two Swan-River
Natives  136
No. IX. Government Notice  ,  139
No. X. Profits of Sheep Farming  140

STATE AND POSITION

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction — Motives of the Writer — Sources of Information — Description
of the Country, Soil, Climate, Natural Productions, Pasturage, Seasons
— Favourable Reports of the Interior — Fisheries — Harbours — PoUtical
and Commercial Advantages — ^Table of Sailing Distances, &c.
The purpose of the following pages is to lay before per
sons desirous of emigrating a short, but impartial, state
ment of the condition of the colony of Western Australia,
commonly called the Swan River Settlement. The object
of the writer is not to exalt its advantages above those of
other colonies. His statements are put forward neither
from motives of private interest, nor to forward the views
of any party or associated body whatever ; and he trusts
that, however brief, his statement will be found throughout
essentially correct.
That the subject of colonization is an important one, not
B

6
and between the ranges, where the country is from 500 to
1000 feet above sea level, the soil is mostly of the red marl
formation, and generally good, bearing fine forests of native
mahogany and other timber. There is feed for sheep on the
hills next the coast district, and rich pasture of wild vetch
and other herbage for cattle in the ravines. Some land be
tween the ranges seems, but for the lofty timber it bears,
wholly sterile : so forbidding is its aspect, from the iron
stone with which it abounds, that it resembles districts the
author has seen in Sicily, that were overspread with cinders
from Mount Etna.
The banks of the rivers, especially of the Swan, present
scenery much admired by all who have visited the country.
In some parts both borders exhibit extensive meadows, or
namented with trees and flowering shrubs. Elsewhere,
high precipitous banks look down on grassy plains on the
opposite side. These banks are enamelled with a profusion
of the amaranthine tribe of plants (the everlasting flower),
and crowned with noble mahogany and other lofty trees.
The most valuable tracts of land are in the interior, to
the east of the Darling Range of mountains ; and similar
tracts approach to within twenty-five miles of the coast, in
the south-east parts of the colony, between Cape Leeuwin
and King George's Sound. The best land of these tracts
is not confined to the vicinity of lakes, rivers, or hills, as
is mostly the case on the west side of the mountains, where
the principal body of the settlers are at present located.
The only district occupied beyond the Darling Range is
called York, and is from fifty to sixty miles from the sea
coast. The same name has been given to the projected
chief town, the site of whieh is laid out on the river Avon.
This river, flowing from the south, has a north-westerly
direction in passing York, and has been lately found to wind
through one of the vallies of the Darling Range, and to be

identical with the Swan. The Avon varies greatly in width.
In some parts, where there are fine reaches of one or two
miles in length, it is sixty and seventy paces broad, with
high banks. Like the Swan and some other rivers on the
coast, it is, in the dry season and towards its source, but a
chain of pools, until filled by the winter torrents.
The climate of York is reckoned cooler than that of the
Swan. There have been established in this district, for the
space of several years, arable and grazing farms ; and the
proprietors find the country well suited for both, although
the crops raised there are not equal in quantity to the pro
duce of the rich alluvial plains of the Swan, Canning, and
other rivers in the coast districts.
The fine condition of the herds, the last time the writer
visited the district, showed the pasture to be good. Indeed,
so very nutritious is the herbage, that a farmer there assured
him, he gave no other food than the hay of that country tb
a team of English horses, which appeared in excellent con
dition, although employed in drawing heavy loads across
the Darling Range.
But the interior of Western Australia is particularly
valuable for its sheep pastures. These are extensive tracts
of undulating surface, covered with a short sweet grass, and
are found to be admirably suited for Merino flocks. Those
of Messrs. Bland and Trimmer, which have been there
some years, fully justify this assertion, from their rapid in
crease and healthy condition. Sheep are there exempt
from a disease (supposed to originate from feeding in
marshy pastures), from which several flocks to the west of
the range have suffered severely. In a report printed in
the Colonial Gazette of August last, we find Dr. Harris,
a physician who is settled on the Swan, and has ably written
on the disease alluded to, thus addresses the Agricultural
Society of the colony : — " No country in the world can

8
boast of grounds more favourable for sheep than the York
district of this colony (only about fifty miles from the
coast), where some flocks have been for some time esta
blished with such success, as to dispel every doubt, and
cheer the prospects of the settlers at large."
The scenery of the interior districts is in many parts
beautiful — the undulations of hill and dale, ornamented
with clumps of trees and shrubs, present a rich and cheer
ful aspect. On one occasion, when riding over a tract of
this description, of which he particularly wished to gain an
accurate knowledge, the author was accompanied by an ex
perienced and intelligent English farmer; and, after an
attentive examination of it during a whole day, which they
devoted to that object, the farmer coincided with him in
opinion, that the tract was well adapted for agricultural or
pastoral purposes, but especially for sheep. In accordance
with the observation before made, that the quality of the soil
to the east of the range does not depend on the neighbour
hood of rivers &c., they found the land between three and
four miles from the river superior to that on its banks.
In the interior, alternating with the fertile districts, are
to be found extensive tracts of inferior land. They are either
clayey soil on which the water lodges in winter, or sandy,
or soils impregnated with salt. These lands afford little
herbage, and generally bear forest trees thinly distributed
over the surface. The banks of the salt pools are mostly
covered with samphire.
The seed time is long and favourable, and lasts from early
in May to the end of August. The writer has had, indeed,
a good crop of wheat sown so late as the 15th of Septeniber ;
but it grew on alluvial soil-rand land should be of this de
scription, or in good condition, to admit of seed being put
in so late even as August. , Experience, however, has proved
that the earlier the seed is sown the better.

Showers commence in March, and increase in duration
and heaviness till August ; from which period to November
they gradually diminish. In September there is heavy
rain, and fine showers fall in October and November. By
December the grain is ripe, and therefore suffers nothing
from lack of moisture.
There is little or no rain in December, January, and
February; but in these months the dews are heavy. The
grain (which sheds little) may, consequently, be left without
injury a long time in the fields, to suit the convenience of
the farmer.
Hay is cut in November, and may be made up six hours
after cutting, without risk of its heating in the stack.
It is apparent, from what has been said, that the farmer is
highly favoured in both seasons — in seed time and in harvest.
Although the grass is much burnt up in the summer, live
stock keep in good condition upon it ; and young cattle are
remarked to be as large at nine months old as they would be
in England at twelve : this is attributed to their being
enabled to graze all the year without penning up.
The wheat of the colony is a fine grain, and samples of
it, sent to England, have been highly approved of, and pre
served for seed there. It averages from 62 lbs. to 65 lbs.
the bushel, and some of it has weighed 68 lbs.
The average of the crops by the acre has not been great.
It has been computed at twenty-flve bushels the English
acre ; but the calculation has not been made with accuracy.
The imperfect mode of cultivation should here be borne in
mind, as the probable cause of so moderate a produce, com
pared with instances, hereinafter adduced, of the fertility of
the soil. The following is an experiment, made two years in
succession. A piece of alluvial land, measured with exactness, and
sown with wheat, gave, the first year, a produce at the rate of

10
forty-three bushels; and the second year, of very nearly sixty-
one bushels to the English acre, without the aid of ma
nure. The latter is a return which farmers consider equal
to that of the best land in England, under the most im
proved culture. Some oats, being the second crop raised
from the same description of land, cultivated two years
in succession, were, by an experienced farmier, judged by
the eye to yield from ten to twelve quarters the English
acre. The barley grown in the colony is mostly Cape
barley — a large four- sided grain, giving a heavy produce.
It makes fine malt, as has been ascertained : for, from a
bushel and a half of it (dried in the sun) and one pound of
hops, twenty gallons of good ale and fifteen of small beer
have been brewed.
Turnips, particularly the Swedish, give a weighty and
sure crop. Potatoes produce very fair crops, and, in the
alluvial soils, good ones, without manure.
The sandy lands, which have more or less of loam in
them, are becoming more valued every year, and heavy
crops of wheat and barley have been had from them with
the aid of very little manure. Some of the land which
gave this return, bore, when in a state of nature, the
grass-tree only, and was cultivated solely from its being
near the farmer's residence.
The productive powers of even inferior sandy soils are
often extraordinary, and show what the combination of
heat and moisture effects in this country. At Perth and
Fremantle, vegetables and fruits of fine size and flavour
have been produced in sand, without manure. In the
former town a radish, growing in sand, was exhibited in
1833, which measured, round the root, more than four
feet; and a plant of mangel wurzel, in sandy soil of a
better quality, on the Upper Swan, was six feet in circum
ference.

11
It ought to be noticed here, that the country has not yet
been visited by a drought ; and, from its situation on the
west coast of the great continent of New Holland, it seems
secured from such a calamity ; as the westerly winds, which
prevail during the winter, bring with them from the sea an
abundant supply of rain, at the most seasonable time of
the year. — ^The great advantage the colonists derive from
their position in this particular, will be more apparent, if
we refer to what the settlement at Algoa Bay, in South
Africa, suffered in its infancy, and does still suffer oc
casionally, from want of rain. The author is the more
impressed with the great advantage that Western Australia
derives from its situation by having, about three years
ago, seen letters from Sydney, on the opposite side of
the continent, written by a large landed proprietor in New
South Wales, which stated that, from a succession of
droughts for several years previous, much distress had been
occasioned there, and that the settlers did not know where
to find pasture for their numerous flocks and herds.
The following circumstance, showing the increasing ex
tent of that colony, was mentioned by a settler in New
South Wales, who visited Swan River last year, with a view,
as was understood, of ascertaining on what terms land there
could be purchased : — in order to pasture on unappropriated
lands his flocks (amounting to from 30,000 to 40,000 sheep),
he had, a short time previous, been obliged to take up his
abode in the interior, four hundred miles from Sydney.
As vegetation in Western Australia continues throughout
the year, a succession of crops of potatoes and other vege
tables may always be had wherever irrigation can be
secured. The following vegetables grow in the open air (if only
common pains be taken), namely, tomatos, pumpkins,
gourds, vegetable marrow, chillies, egg-plants ; also every

12
English vegetable, and the following fruits : — melons,
bananas, almonds, figs, grapes, peaches, strawberries, and
Cape goosebeiTies, all of which have come to perfection.
The olive, pomegranate, apricot, plum, mango, lemon, and
orange; the mulberry, apple, nectarine, pear, and various
other trees, have not yet had time to bear fruit, but are
growing well. Fig-cuttings produce fruit the first year,
and vines frequently do so the second year. Oaks, and other
timber trees from England, are likewise thriving.
Mr. Drummond, the Government botanist — for several
years in charge of the public garden at Perth, says, in a
report on its progress : — " The vines planted in May 1831
have made shoots, in what is past of this season, sixteen
feet long, and the strongest and finest wood I have ever
seen ; the olives brought out by Captain Mangles, R. N.
have been laid, and produced 150 plants ; all the other plants
in the garden thrive as well as the best friends of the colony
can wish."
The same gentleman has expressed his opinion, as the
result of his experience, that the climate of Swan River is
peculiarly adapted for the growth of the vine, the olive, and
the silk mulberry.
The forests afford abundance of timber suitable for house
and ship building, cartwright's work, and cabinet- making.
The mahogany of the country is in great plenty. With this
wood principally, the Success frigate was repaired in Cock-
burn Sound ; and when she was afterwards overhauled at
Portsmouth, the officers of the dock-yard found this timber
answering so well, and in such perfect preservation, that, on
their report, the Lords of the Admiralty instructed Sir James
Stirling to send a quantity of it to England, at a price ex
ceeding, by more than fifty per cent, that allowed for Afri
can oak : specimens of it (taken out of the Success, when
she was overhauled on the above occasion) are preserved in

13
the model room of the Surveyor General of the Navy, at
Somerset House.
The blue gum tree (which, in the south east parts of the
colony, grows to a gigantic height, and to which it will be
necessary again to advert) has been estimated by an eminent
ship-builder in England, to be equal, if not superior, to teak,
for ship-building.
The opinion of the colonists themselves respecting the
quality of the soil, as expressed in one of their addresses to
the Governor on his return to Swan River in August last,
is thus reported in the Colonial Gazette : " The experience
of the interval between your departure and return has been
of the greatest utility in establishing from facts (without the
necessity of resorting any further to theories), the ferti
lity of a large portion of the soil of this colony, when under
proper cultivation ; and the peculiar adaptation of the great
mass of land beyond the Darling Range, in soil, herbage, and
climate, to the pasturage and rearing of sheep."
The following extract from the report of an overland expe
dition from Swan River to King George's Sound (a distance
of from two hundred to three hundred miles) is here given,
in order to show the little probability of good land becoming
scarce in the settlement for many years to come. It is writ
ten by the conductor of the expedition. Captain Bannister,
an intelligent settler, who had travelled in Greece, and
other European countries resembling Western Australia in
climate. He thus writes — " From the 23rd " of December " to the
Sth of January, we pursued a south-by-east course, for eighty
or ninety miles of actual distance, through, in many tracts, a
country which surpassed our most sanguine expectations.
A very great proportion of this tract was land of the finest
description, fit for the plough, sheep, or cattle. The beauty
of the scenery, near to and distant from the rivers which we

14
crossed, is equal to any I have seen in the most cultivated
timber country in those parts of Europe which I have hap
pened to pass through."
Brevity renders it necessary to omit Captain Bannister's
description of rich scenery, and fertile soil, which he gives
in other parts of his report ; but the following is an account
of what may be deemed one of the most magnificent pro
ductions of nature in the vegetable kingdom.
Referring to the country passed over on the 6th and the
9th of January, this officer says, — " The trees were princi
pally the blue gum; and, if others had not seen them, I should
be afraid to speak of their magnitude. I measured one ; it
was, breast-high, forty-two feet in circumference, and in
height before a branch, 140 or 150, we thought, at least;
and as straight as the barrel of a gun : from the immense
growth of these trees, I formed an opinion that the land upon
which they grew could not be bad ; what little we did see
was a brown loam, capable of any cultivation, and, where
the underwood was not remarkably thick, grass and herbage
grew luxuriantly."
It should be observed that no other expedition has explored
the country described by Captain Bannister ; and that as he
travelled in the sumraer or dry season, it must have appeared,
from the effects of the sun, to great disadvantage.
The country in the south-east parts of the settlement is
described by an enterprising traveller. Dr. J. B.Wilson, R.N.
After an excursion of ten days, which he made from King
George's Sound, this gentleman (who is a large landed pro
prietor in New South Wales) thus speaks of the country he
observed on the eighth daly : — "\ have seen many far-famed
views in the four ancient divisions of the* globe, and have no
hesitation in saying that this of the fifth (if it did not surpass)
fell but little short of any of them." Elsewhere he says, —
*' The tinjber, principally blue gum, is the finest I ever saw."

15
At the close of his journal, he gives this opinion of the coun
try he had explored : — " I do not hesitate in saying, with
out fear of future contradiction, that the area passed over
contained as much, perhaps more land fit for all rural pur
poses, than any portion of equal extent (at least as far as I
know) in New South Wales." *
Among those to whose enterprize and exertions the
colonists are indebted for very valuable information respect
ing their territory, it would be injustice to omit the name
of Lieut. Dale, of the 63rd regiment, who has been engaged,
perhaps more than any other person, in exploring the interior
at Swan River and King George's Sound. f
To this officer the colonists are indebted for the dis
covery, in August 1830, of the country to the eastward of
the Darling Range, by far the finest district yet occupied.
His services in the Survey Department, to which he was
attached for several years, were deemed so important, that
the Governor more than once expressed his sense of them,
in his dispatches to the Secretary of State.
On the early state of the Swan River Settlement a short
memoir will be found in the first number of the Journal of
the Royal Geographical Society, by Sir John Barrow, whose
knowledge and judgment on all subjects connected with
newly-explored countries, render any information from him
on these points peculiarly valuable. To this is annexed an
interesting paper by that most eminent botanist, Mr. Robert
* The statements of these two travellers have been taken from a work
published in 1833, by J. Cross, 18 Holborn, entitled "Journals of several ex
peditions made in Western Australia, during the years 1829, 1830, 1831, and
1832, under the sanction of the Governor, Sir James Stirling.'' In the
Appendix to that work is contained much interesting and useful information,
and from it are taken the journals of the weather at Perth, and at King
George's Sound ; and also the reports of the two physicians adverted to under
the head of climate.
t This officer has executed, with remarkable fidelity, a Panoramic View of
King George's Sound and the adjacent country.

16
Brown ; and a description of the natives of King George's
Sound. This last paper goes fully into all the details ofthe
habits and character of these people, and is drawn up with
great perspicuity by Scott Nind, Esq., who accompanied,
as a medical officer, the first detachment from Sydney
stationed there. A valuable work on the natural history of
the colony may also be expected (should the delicate state
of his health permit) from Mr. Collie, the colonial surgeon,
already known for his able and scientific researches made
during a voyage round the world in his Majesty's ship
Blossom, to which expedition he was attached as naturalist.
There is a plentiful supply of white fish on the coast, in
cluding the snapper, and many others not known in Europe.
Some of them are well flavoured, and similar to the cod, had
dock, &c. Fish have been taken in large quantities off Rottnest
Island (outside Gage's Roads), in Cockburn Sound, at the
Murray River, and elsewhere. Some samples sent to foreign
markets have brought good prices ; and there is no doubt
but that when capital and enterprise are employed in this
speculation, it will prove a fruitful source of wealth to the
colony — having such markets near as are afforded by Java,
and the other Malay isles, the Mauritius, India, and China.
As salt is found in the colony, and especially in Rottnest
Island, the means for curing are at hand.
A whale fishery would also yield a rich return for the em
ployment of capital and skill. There is, it is believed, no
frequented coast where whales are found in greater numbers.
When at Port Leschenault, the writer was told by the officer
commanding there, that he had counted fourteen in the bay
at once. During a voyage of the Sulphur down the coast,
three hundred are said to have been seen. Some of these
fish were declared to be sperm, by men of the ship who had
been whalers ; but it is chiefly the black whale that fre
quents the Coast.

1/
Soon after the Sulphur's arrival, at an early period of the
settlement, her crew, \vith that of the Challenger frigate,
were engaged in fishing ; and on one occasion, they caught
so vast a quantity of a species called the King fish, that the
net they were using broke, and the fish were literally driven
on shore. After filling three large boats with them, a con
siderable heap was left on the beach. Upwards of three
hundred people were amply supplied on this occasion, in
cluding the civil and military establishments then on Gar
den Island ; and also the crews of the above ships and the
Parmelia transport. Close to Garden Island, is a bank on
which the finest whiting are caught in great quantities ;
they are larger than those taken on the English coast, and
equal to them in flavour. Mr. D. H. Macleod, late of the
63rd Regt., and Government Resident at King George's
Sound, informed the writer, that he was along with the crew
of the colonial schooner "Ellen," when they caught on
the Five Fathom Bank, outside of that island, a place
greatly frequented by the snapper — in less than two hours,
and with half a dozen hooks and lines — fish of that descrip
tion, to an extent exceeding five cwt. Some of them weighed
from 20 to 401bs. each.
In the Swan River there is a great abundance of fish of the
herring tribe, of a flatter description, and broader than those
in the English seas. Some of these, along with the Snap
per, were cured, and taken to Java by Mr. Sholl, the purser
of the Sulphur, acting as the agent of the local government,
and were pronounced by the Malays, at Sourabaya, to be
well adapted for the Java market.
Erroneous impressions have been prevalent respecting the
harbours of Western Australia ; and these impressions, for a
time, raised considerably the rate of insurance at Lloyd's.
Accurate information, however, on this head having now
been had, the injurious effect has ceased. As an instance
c

18
of this, a vessel, which has just sailed for Swan River and
King George's Sound, has been insured at as low a rate as
vessels which are bound for the neighbouring colonies.
In the Appendix* will be found a particular description
of the harbours of the colony, which has been kindly fur
nished by Captain Preston, R. N. This intelligent officer
was lieutenant of the Success frigate, at the time Sir James
Stirling was dispatched to explore the coast in 182/ ; and,
on his recommendation to the Admiralty, was appointed first
lieutenant of the Sulphur ; in which sloop, and in command
of a colonial vessel, he was, for several years, employed
on the station.
From Captain Preston's report it will be seen that Owen's
Anchorage, two miles and a quarter from the jetty at Fre
mantle, is a good and safe station for ships in the blowing
season; and that they may remain in Gage's Roads, opposite
the town, even during that season, except in a gale, the
approach of which is always indicated by the barometer ;
when they may run into Owen's Anchorage. The direc
tions given by that officer, for vessels entering the harbours,
will be found to correspond with those laid down by Sir
James Stirling, and the Surveyor General, Mr. Roe.f
* See Appendix, No. 4 ; where also will be found inserted a paper extracted
from the "Perth Gazette," on the subject ofthe buoys in Cockburn Sound,
and which has already appeared in the " Nautical Magazine." This paper,
which has been fumished by the Surveyor-General, Mr. Roe, is particularly
important, as containing a description of Lambert Channel, a valuable outlet
to sea or to Cockburn Sound, from Owen's Anchorage or Gage's Roads,
without passing round Rottnest Island, which, during strong northerly winds
may be considered almost impracticable. The channel was named after
Capt. Lambert, of H. M. ship Alligator, which was last year sent from India
for the pm-pose of replacing the buoys and beacons at the entrance of the
harbours. t See a chart of the Harbours, published in 1833, by J. Arrowsmith, 33
East-street, Red Lion-square ; who has also furnished, from documents sup
plied by the Colonial Office, a valuable map of the colony, which every
person going out ought to possess.

19
The importance of having a secure harbour at Swan River,
where vessels can refit, as ^^•ell as lie in security in the
winter season, is considerable in a political, as well as a
commercial point of view. This, at present, may chance to
be disregarded or overlooked ; but, if an enemy were ever
to get possession of the place, and fortify it, so as to render
it a secure resort, from whence his privateers might annoy
our trade in the Eastern seas, the British Government would
have cause to regret the not having secured possession by
requisite fortifications. The harbour at Cockburn Sound,
which fully answers to the above description, is so capa
cious that vessels could lie in it without being annoyed by
batteries from the shore ; and it will be seen, by reference to
Captain Preston's report, that when vessels require to be
hove down, Port Royal, within its limits, is well adapted for
that purpose.
The great advantages for commerce which Western Aus
tralia derives from its position, will be obvious from a glance
at a map of the world ; but persons acquainted with the
coasts of New Holland, and the monsoons that blow in the
Indian seas, will be better able to appreciate how much it is
favoured as to situation. As the north-west winds prevail
from March till September, during that season vessels from
the eastward rarely succeed in getting up the west coast of
Australia ; but, most frequently, after beating about for
several weeks off Cape Leeuwin, they have been forced to
put about, and go round the east coast, and through the
dangerous straits of Torres, to get to India and the west
ward.* Swan River, on the contrary, is so much to wind-
* In the work on South Australia, where the sailing distances are given
from Port Lincoln, the wind is said to be favourable, at aU seasons, from that
port to Timor, Java, Madras, Ceylon, Mauritius, and Cape of Good Hope.
As South Australia, however, lies considerably to the south-east of these
ports, it is clear that this cannot be the case while the north-west winds pre
vail. The eiTor is palpable.
c2

20
ward of that formidable Cape, that the passage to and from
the Mauritius is favourable throughout the year.
The foUovring is a table of the distances, in the favourable
season, from Swan River to the undermentioned countries.
The passage, however, to Ceylon and Madras has occasion
ally been performed in much shorter time.
Distance. Time.
To Timor  1,500 miles  12 days.
Java  1,700  15
Madras  3,400  25
Ceylon  3,100  23
Mauritius  3,400  21
Cape of Good Hope . . 5,000  31
Van Diemen's Land . . . 2,200  12
Sydney  2,600  16
The season most, propitious for making a voyage from the
colony to India, is from the beginning of April to the begin
ning of September. By leaving Swan River during that
period, a vessel immediately gets into the south-east trade-
wind, which carries her across the line, when she meets
with the south-west monsoon, that takes her at once to
Madras. At this season, fine weather maybe reckoned upon
for the whole of the way. The "Merope," Capt. Pollock,
which conveyed a detachment of the 63rd Regt. from Swan
River to Madras, arrived in the roads at the latter place on
the 16th of May 1834, after a voyage of nineteen days.
In his voyage from England to the colony, and in return
ing home, the author was, on each occasion, at sea about
three months and a half. The passage out and home, at the
proper seasons, is both safe and agreeable. With a view
to fine weather while passing the Cape, and on his arrival
on the coast, it is desirable that the emigrant should not
arrive at those places during the winter season, which
answers to our summer.

21

If, after what has now been stated, anything can still be
considered wanting to establish the position that Western
Australia is well calculated for colonization, it is furnished
in the following extract from an authority the most disin
terested and unbiassed that, for this particular purpose, can
well be appealed to : viz., a work drawn up under the sanc
tion of the committee of the South Australian Association,*
who have for their chairman Mr. W. Wolryche Whitmore,
the late member for Wolverhampton, a gentleman who has
displayed extensive knowledge on the subject of coloniza
tion : — " For fear that these remarks should be attributed
to a disposition, which is common amongst colonists, to
praise their own settlement at the expense of other settle
ments, this opportunity is taken to express an opinion, that
Western Australia is, as respects soil and climate, one of the
finest countries in the world, and one of the most fit for
supporting a prosperous colony. That the colony there
settled is not prosperous, is, we believe, owing not at all
to any defects of climate or soil, but entirely to a bad sys
tem of colonization, which may be reformed ; or rather to
the want of a good system, which may be supplied."
* The publication is entitled " The New British Province of South Austra
lia," and the passage is quoted from a note inserted at page 19 of it.

CHAPTER II.

The Aborigines : Food, Clothing, Huts, &c. — Character — Natives of the
Murray River — -Recent Encounter — Mounted Police — Tendency of Penal
Settlements — Native Claims — A Treaty recommended — Appeal for Mis
sionaries.

The tribes who frequent the districts in the vicinity of
the Swan, Port Augusta, and King George's Sound (the
territory now occupied by the settlers), do not exceed, per
haps, a thousand souls. The form of their government is
patriarchal, and they live under independent chiefs ; to
whom, however, they are little in subjection, except when
they are at war among themselves, which is not unfre
quently the case. Their mode of life is migratory.
Their food is of various kinds, and as the season arrives
for each, they remove to that part of the country most fa
vourable for obtaining it. At one season they live principally
on the kangaroo. This animal (of which there are several
species) they kill with spears, and occasionally hunt with
dogs. These dogs vary considerably in size, and, from their
bushy tail and short pricked ears, resemble the fox. The
natives also eat the opossum, an animal they find mostly in
the hollows of trees : they show great agility in pursuit of
it. At the fishing season they resort to thc vicinity of rivers
and lakes. Their mode of taking the fish is by spearing, at

23
vvhich they are very dexterous. They have most success at
night, when the fish are attracted by the glare of torches,
and in some places they take a great deal by means of
weirs. In the vicinity of these, fish have been found left in
heaps by the natives, after they had used what they needed.
They also live on the tortoise and land-crab, and eat
grubs, which they find of a large size in the bark of cer
tain trees. The principal root they use is the eringo, or
wild parsnip, which grows to the depth of three or four
feet in loam and other strong soils. Certain nuts of a bitter
quality they convert into food, by previous rubbing over
with clay, and baking in hot ashes. In the proper season,
they get honey from the blossoms of the banksia tree,
which they extract by suction.
As to their mode of cooking fish, the author has partaken
of a specimen of it, that would have been no disgrace to a
Parisian cook. It was a flat fish, which, after being washed
and prepared, was wrapped in soft bark, and placed in hot
ashes until dressed. By this process, an acid from the bark
was communicated to the fish, imparting to it so agreeable
a flavour, that it required the addition of no other sauce.
Their only clothing by day, and covering at night, is
made of kangaroo and opossum skins, with which the women
are tolerably well supplied ; but the men, especiallj^ in sum
mer, often go naked. Their huts, which in shape resemble
bee-hives, are about four feet high, and capable of containing
but three or four persons. They are constructed in a few
minutes with sticks, and covered with the bark of the Mela-
leuka, or tea tree, as it is called in New Holland. This
bark is of a soft cottony substance, and strips off the tree
in large flakes. The entrance is on the side which is shel
tered from the prevalent wind ; where, instead of a door,
fire is kindled, towards which the inmates stretch their feet
when thev lie down.

24
These savages, though exhibiting fewer marks of approach
to civilization than any others the writer has seen, are yet
far from being deficient in observation, quickness of appre
hension, and docility. Like most savages, they set little
value on human life, and eagerly avenge insult or injury :
yet they are not so sanguinary as the North American In
dians ; and, except when provoked, they have seldom been
known to attempt the life of a settler.
The talent of these natives for mimickry is considerable,
and shows their habits of observation. They repeat with
great accuracy the conversation of the Europeans, and pro
nounce each word correctly, excepting those beginning with
an S; for instance, "Swan," they call " On." They have
also been seen imitating the walk and gesture of a number of
Europeans, some of whom they had but occasionally met,
with such exactness, that the standers-by were instantly en
abled to name the persons intended. This facility of imita
tion renders their pantomimic dances, which they delight in,
lively pictures of some of their pursuits. In these dances,
called by them corrobories, they engage generally at night,
near a blazing fire. Their representation of killing the kan
garoo is peculiarly striking. Two are selected out of the
circle to represent the hunter and the kangaroo. One as
sumes the attitude of the animal when grazing, and exhibits
the cautious timidity natural to it, pausing from time to
time, rising upon end, looking about, and anxiously listening
as it were, to ascertain whether an enemy be nigh. The
hunter, approaching against the wind, with extreme caution
steals on his prey; and, after frequent change of his position
retreating, or throwing himself on the ground, the scene at
length closes with the triumph of the hunter, on his dis
charging the spear, which is supposed to pierce the animal.
The natives daily enter the towns and farm-houses with
confidence, unless when an interruption occurs of the good

25
understanding usually subsisting between them and the
colonists. They are partial to our food, especially bread,
for which they often ask, and are willing to perform short
tasks of labour, or give in exchange spears, fish, or whatever
else they may have. This taste has led them to occasional
acts of plunder; and settlers having fired on them in de
fence of their property, the natives have retaliated, and
thus blood has unhappily been shed on both sides.
The conduct of the local government towards the na
tives has been characterized by lenity ; but, a short time
previous to the author's leaving the colony, it became
necessary to have a public execution under the following
circumstances : — a native had been shot in the act of break
ing into a store by night; and, to revenge his loss, the remain
der of the tribe had put to death two servants of a settler. The
chief and his son, having been identified as principals in these
murders, were outlawed ; and, shortly after, the former was
captured, and executed at Perth, and the latter was shot in
the woods. These acts of justice so completely succeeded
in their object of intimidating the natives on the Swan
and Canning rivers, that recent accounts from the colony
represent the shepherds and others in the habit of going
about the country, as having for a considerable time laid
aside their usual precaution of carrying fire-arms ; so peace
able had the conduct of these tribes become.
Another proof of the good effects of the course pursued by
the local government was, that a native who had been out
lawed with the chief and his son, and subsequently pardoned,
requested an interview of the Governor, which he obtained :
when, after stating the injuries his tribe had suffered from
the colonists, he begged that a permanent treaty of amity
might be made with them : and, in reply, was told that it was
the earnest wish of the Government to effect this object — to
protect them from injury, and benefit them in other ways.

26
if they would only abstain from aggression on the lives and
properties of the colonists. The result of the conference
seemed to give great satisfaction to this native, and to others
along with him ; and a very marked change for the better
was observed in his subsequent behaviour.
The natives of the Murray river, forty miles to the south
ward of the Swan, are a more warlike and athletic race than
those already mentioned. They have, from the first, evinced
a desire to dislodge the settlers located in their district ;
and have, from time to time, killed and wounded several of
them, with little or no apparent provocation, contriving, on
repeated occasions, to evade parties of military sent against
them after these outrages.
Recent accounts from the colony contain the report of an
encounter with this tribe, wherein they lost from twenty-
five to thirty men, of whom fifteen were recognised as
having been noted offenders. The party engaged with them
was under the conduct of the Governor, who was proceeding
on an excursion to examine a fertile district, with the view
of forming a settlement there. It consisted of some gentle
men, and a few soldiers and mounted police, twenty-four in
all. On arriving at the place, they heard the natives talking
loudly in the vicinity ; and the party, with the exception of
the police, halted at a ford. The police rode forward, when
the natives, who proved to be seventy in number, and well
armed with spears, seeing only five men, commenced the
attack. This little band, however, repulsed them ; but the
natives continued the fight, retreating until they reached
the ford, where thejr found themselves placed between two
fires : they, notwithstanding, fought on resolutely, till they
had sustained the above severe loss. That on the part of the
colonists, was Captain Ellis (commanding the police), and a
constable wounded; the former mortally. Captain Ellis had
served in the 14th Dragoons in the Peninsular war, and

-7

was a gallant and enterprisuig officer. The great utility
of a few mounted police in thc colony was very apparent
in this skirmish.
Though the loss of life in this affair is a very painful
consideration, and deeply to be deplored, yet it seems mani
fest that without some severe defeat to convince this tribe
of their inferiority in power to the whites, a petty and
harassing warfare might have been indefinitely prolonged,
with ultimately much heavier loss on both sides. It may
now be confidently expected that this tribe will cease to
assume a hostile attitude, and will follow the example of
the tribes on the Swan and Canning rivers, who are evin
cing, as before shown, a desire to be on friendly terms
with the settlers.

The author cannot let this opportunity pass, without
calling the attention of the public to the claims which the
natives of New Holland have upon it. It must be con
fessed that to those tribes, hitherto, British example and
connexion have, for the most part, been found the very re
verse of beneficial. It is impossible for a moment to main
tain or vindicate the abstract right of civilized nations to
establish themselves in the territories of savage tribes, with
out, at least, acknowledging that such intrusions involve the
settlers, and the nation to which they belong, in deep and
lasting responsibilities : in other words, that the latter are
bound, by the strongest ties of moral obligation, to assist the
natives in accommodating themselves to the great changes
they have to undergo ; for it is incumbent upon us ever to
bear in mind that, by our entry into, and establishment in
the country, the nati^'cs are gradually deprived of their

28
hunting and fishing grounds, and are consequently forced,
unprepared, into new modes of life, and new conditions of
society. The equitable and liberal fulfilment of the obliga
tions thus incurred, is indispensable to any case of justifica
tion, which even the least scrupulous advocate of such intru
sions might attempt.
Among the primary measures which he is anxious to see
adopted, now that we are possessed of a sufficient know
ledge of the natives of Western Australia and of their lan
guage, the writer would suggest that a formal treaty with
them be speedily entered into. As a measure of healing
and pacification, he is persuaded it would do much to pre
vent irritation and heart-burnings, and to promote a perma
nent good understanding with them. The advantages of
such an arrangement could not fail to be shared by both
parties. It is a favourable circumstance in this view, that
the colony has, in the person of Mr. Moore, the Advocate-
General, a public officer peculiarly gifted for conducting
such a negotiation. The extraordinary aptitude he pos
sesses for holding intercourse with the natives, has been
strikingly exhibited in the accounts published in the Western
Australian journals of July 12 and 19, 1834. The parti
culars of his conference with an outlawed chief of one of
the tribes are so interesting, that want of room alone pre
vents their insertion in the Appendix.
Western Australia, apart from the continent to which it
belongs, has an unquestionable demand upon us for such a
solemn compact and treaty as that already alluded to. It
has every right to expect that a benevolent line of policy
will be pursued ; but, on a professedly Christian country, it
has a peculiar and irresistible claim that the blessings of
Christianity should be extended to it. Let it not be said
that a nation which includes among its far-famed institutions.
Missionary establishments, designed to promote the con-

29
version of the heathen in general, passes by or neglects a
country on whose shores it has planted a colony for its own
convenience and advantage. To the religious part of such
a nation, at all events, the appeal seems one that has only
to be made, to be immediately successful.
But if these remarks necessarily apply to Western Aus
tralia, considered apart from the continent to which it be
longs, — if they cannot be gainsaid or resisted when the case
is thus limited — with what accumulated force do they apply
when we look at the connexion which all the while subsists
between this settlement and that great continent, a country
equal in extent to Europe ; the eastern shores of which have
not only sustained all the common and inseparable injuries
attendant upon colonization conducted under ordinary cir
cumstances, but have had superinduced all the evils of a
penal settlement ! Not only has Australia, in that quar
ter, experienced none of those compensating results which
every right-minded and considerate person must in all in
stances desire ; but, on the contrary, evils which are of rare
occurrence in colonization — evils the most afflicting and ap
palling, have been — thoughtlessly, it is hoped, but on an
extensive scale, inflicted.
It is now about half a century since a penal settlement
was formed on that coast. To those shores a moral pesti
lence has since been wafted. The scum and refuse of the
civilized nation (men whose education in their own country
has only served to render them adepts in villainy) have been
let loose upon the natives — for it seems an almost inevi
table result of a penal settlement, that some of the most
desperate and depraved of the convicts will, from time to
time, escape, and lead on the native tribes to the commis
sion of every enormity that malignant ingenuity can devise.
Such has been the case in New South Wales, and in Van
Diemen's Land.

30
For proof that this statement is not overcharged, it is
only necessary to refer the reader to the testimony of the
Rev. Messrs. Watson and Handt, who were sent out in
1832 by the Church Missionary Society. These gentlemen
commenced their labours at Wellington Valley, in the inte
rior of the country ; and, in the " Church Missionary Re
cord " of November 1834, is given the first account of their
mission. The following remarks, with which that account
is there introduced, but too fully corroborate what has been
already stated of the injuries inflicted on the savages, by a
penal settlement having been fixed among them : —
" NEW HOLLAND.
" In the following extracts from the communications of the Rev.
Messrs. W. Watson and J. C. S. Handt, such particulars only are
presented to our readers as are fit to meet the public eye ; for we are
grieved to say, that such are the miseries, diseases, and degradation,
brought on the Aborigines of this vast country by their intercourse
with Europeans, that decency would be shocked at the recital of their
state. Suffice it to say, that, surrounded by wretchedness of the
lowest description, the missionaries and their wives are giving them
selves to their work of mercy with zeal and self-denial. Without this,
it were impossible ever to hope to see righteousness prevail over a
scene of such complete moral desolation ! ! ! "
Many individuals as well as societies, it is probable,
justify their having turned a deaf ear to the urgent appeals
for relief which have doubtless, from time to time, been
made to them on behalf of such a complicated state of
wretchedness, by the apparent hopelessness of the under
taking ; while they have been induced to direct missionary
efforts to other parts, such as New Zealand, and the vari
ous isles of the Pacific Ocean, where missionaries have
long been labouring; though such quarters have not the
claims which the natives of Australia have upon us, on
the ground of the deep injuries inflicted on their eastern
coast, as well as of their being our fellow-subjects. The

31
writer himself is not aware that, in a missionary point of
view, any thmg whatever has been done for that country,
except by the Church Missionary Society, in the instance of
the two missionaries already referred to, towards whose
support his Majesty's Government contribute 500^. a-year.
But, if difficulties deemed almost insurmountable have
hitherto stood in the way of all attempts to benefit Australia
from that side on which alone we had till lately gained a
footing, it must be encouraging to the Christian philan
thropist to learn, that, on its western coast, an opening is
now presented for missionaries to the native tribes, unac
companied by any of those peculiar obstacles and dis
couragements, which are so deeply to be lamented on the
opposite side. The writer has great pleasure in announcing
to the public, that some friends of the cause in Dublin have
just established a society, called the " Swan River Mission."
To this institution he solicits attention ; and, for further
particulars respecting it, refers his readers to the Appendix.*
* See Appendix, No. 5.

CHAPTER III.

Misstatements in recent Publications— Mr. Peel's Grant — Causes of early
Failures— Origin of many injurious Reports— Instance of a Settler
seriously misled by them — Want of Money — High Prices of Provisions
— Want of Storehouses— Free Grants, Tendency of — Remedies in Pro
gress.

The reader's attention will now be drawn to some of the
misstatements with respect to the colony, which have ap
peared in recent publications. Under this head he would
especially notice a work entitled " England and America ;"
as the question of colonization is ably discussed in it, and
the system which it recommends is intended to be followed
up in the projected colony of South Australia. The author
would here remark, that from what came under his own ob
servation, when he was in South Africa in 1817, of the con
dition of the Boors on the Caffrarian frontier, as well as
from his recent experience in New Holland, he fully ac
quiesces in the theory that work develops — that, in order to
the rapid progress and prosperity of a free colony, a due pro
portion ought to be maintained between land, capital, and
labour. Agreeing, however, as he does on this point,
it is at the same time incumbent on him, as an eye-witness

33
to the progress of the colony of Western Australia from its
origin, to show that the statements therein made relative to
its early condition are incorrect.
At page 33, vol. 2, of the work in question, there is said
to be, in Western Australia, " abundance of good land, and
of land, too, cleared and drained by nature." After advert
ing to the amount of capital and live stock, and the number
of labourers introduced by the first settlers, it is asked, what
has become of all that capita), and all those labourers ? Then
comes the following passage : — " Why this failure, with
all the elements of success — plenty of good land, plenty of
capital, and enough labour ? — The explanation is easy ; —
in this colony there never has been a class of labourers.
Those who went out as labourers no sooner reached the
colony than they were tempted, by the superabundance of
good land, to become landowners."
This writer proceeds to state, that Mr. Peel (who, as he had
been informed, had brought out a capital of 50,000/. and 300
persons of the labouring class) had been thus left without a
servant to make his bed, or to fetch him water from the river ;
and that, in the absence of his people, his capital had perished.
" The same thing," he adds, " happened in many cases."
Further on, it is stated that some of the labourers, who had
become independent landowners, died of hunger, at a period
when a large supply of food had reached the colony ; and
that they were starved, because where they had settled was
not known to the Governor, nor even to themselves — " such,"
says this writer, " was the dispersion of these colonists, in
consequence of the superabundance of good land." It is
added, that the settlers who remained had petitioned for
convicts — though one of the chief inducements to settling in
the colony was an undertaking, on the part of the English
Government, that none should be sent thither.
If this writer's statement be correct — that labourers on

34
their arrival, tempted by the superabundance of good land,
did with impunity desert their masters, leaving their pro
perty to perish, and did themselves become landowners, it
will be apparent, either that there were then no laws in the
colony, or that they were not in force. The reverse, how
ever, is the fact, — there were laws, and they were enforced.
The following is No. 8 of the land regulations : — " No
grant of land will be made to servants under indenture ; nor
shall persons receive grants who shall appear to have come
to the settlement at the expense of other individuals, with
out sufficient assurance of their having fulfilled the condition
of any agreement under which they may have come." The
author does not remember an instance of this regulation
being relaxed ; and it is manifest that destruction of pro
perty and the ruin of the capitalist must have been inevi
table, had the Government not enforced it.
Equally without foundation is the statement— ^that the
indentured servant could desert his master with impunity.
The indenture was binding equally on master and servant,
and was strictly enforced by the colonial law. If the master
failed to give the wages, food, or whatever else might have
been stipulated for in the indenture, the servant, on esta
blishing his complaint before a magistrate, obtained his
discharge. On the other hand, if the master proved a breach
of the indenture by the servant unduly absenting himself,
refusing to work, &c., the magistrate was under obligation
to imprison the servant. Also any person employing an
indentured servant, without permission of the master, was
subject to a very heavy fine.
Mr. Peel and his people were in this manner circum
stanced. The author has read many of their indentures : in
all of these Mr. Peel was bound to pay them daily wages
(generally three shillings), out of which their food and cloth
ing were to be deducted. The capital imported by Mr. Peel,

35
though very considerable, was understood to consist chiefly
of stores and live-stock. However this may have been, he
found it convenient, after a time, to grant most of his people
permission to work for other settlers, reserving a right to
recal them when he chose ; but allowing them the alterna
tive of their discharge, on their reimbursing him the ex
pense of their passage out. As his people could get higher
wages when working for others, they gladly accepted the
permission. Occasional misunderstandings took place be
tween him and some of them, and it was not till after the
Governor, accompanied bythe Law- Adviser of Government,
had more than once repaired in person to Mr. Peel's location,
that an adjustment of those differences was effected. The
author has known several servants of Mr. Peel to be im
prisoned for breaches of indenture. A number of them,
however, were excellent men, who would have conscien
tiously adhered to him, had he not given them the option
of working for others.
It is but justice here to acknowledge the great benefit con
ferred on the settlement by Mr. Peel, in the introduction
of men who were not only of good conduct, but well ac
quainted with farming pursuits or with trades. For himself,
the author feels happy in having this opportunity to express
his sense of it, having had upwards of four years in his ser
vice a family brought out by Mr. Peel. The father of this
family is a man of intelligence and observation. Besides his
own trade of brick and tile-making, he has a competent know
ledge of farming, gardening, bricklaying, lime-burning, and
brewing, in which various occupations he employs himself.
Such is his industry, that he has been seen working for hours
in the garden by moonlight, after spending a long day at
labour in the field. His wife is a regular dairy woman. One
of the sons is a carpenter, and another a ploughman, besides
having each a knowledge of their father's trade ; and the
d2

36
rest of the family, down to the youngest, are training up in
habits of industry and labour.
Desirous of avoiding further allusion than is justifiable to
the affairs of an individual, the writer hopes enough has been
said to demonstrate that, whatever injury Mr. Peel may have
sustained by destruction of stores, and loss of live-stock (and
there is no doubt it was very considerable), the cause is not
attributable to his not having had the aid of such of his
people as he chose to retain in his service.
Although, as has been shown, the conditions of the in
dentures were by the colonial laws enforced, it will neverthe
less be manifest, that no law, in any country, can prevent
an artful and unprincipled servant (anxious to be rid of his
engagement) from acting in so vexatious a manner, that
some masters, in preference to keeping such a one, would
forego any benefit the indenture might confer. Such a
course has been adopted in the colony by some masters
thus circumstanced. Those, however, who had been care
ful to bring out men of good character, and to whom they
allowed an equitable compensation for their services, have
rarely had cause for complaint ; and, on the contrary, have
generally been rewarded by the cheerful obedience of their
servants. The author is the more desirous of disproving the alleged
lawless state of society in the colony, as the implied reproach
is totally unmerited by the Governor, Sir James Stirling,
who has been most indefatigable and self-denying in his
exertions for the public welfare ; and it is equally so by the
magistracy, who, under the conduct of their chairman Mr.
Mackie, formerly Counsel to the Local Government, and now
the colonial judge (a gentleman whose integrity, assiduity,
and professional talent, are highly appreciated by the colo
nists), have, from the outset, administered the laws with
vigour and impartiality.

37
With reference to the assertion that some individuals had
perished with hunger from not having been able to inform
the Governor as to where they had settled, the author can
only say, that he did not hear of any such circumstance while
in the colony, and that he considers it very improbable ; as,
with the exception of the people connected with Mr. Peel,
the settlers, at the period alluded to, were located on the
Swan and the Canning, by following down which rivers they
could have reached, in the course of a single day, the towns
of Perth or Fremantle.
He has also to confess his ignorance of the colonists
having, as stated, petitioned for convicts — he knows that
such a wish was not expressed in their memorial drawn up
in 1832, and laid before his Majesty's Government by Sir
James Stirling in person. The colonists having had before
their eyes, in the neighbouring penal settlements, the serious
evils inflicted on society by the employment of convicts (espe
cially as in-door sei-vants), have firmly resisted the tempta
tion to seek such a remedy for their wants. The extreme
difficulty, which it is notorious respectable families there
experience, to sufficiently guard the morals of their off
spring, and to secure their being brought up in the neces
sary principles of virtue and integrity, is alone a considera
tion which, it is believed, will keep the colonists in Western
Australia stedfast on this point. No mere worldly prospe
rity whatsoever, can compensate for the tremendous risk to
which children in a penal settlement are exposed, as many
a heart-broken parent can testify.
It is stated, at page 145, vol. 2, of the work already
quoted, that 500,000 acres in the colony had been granted to
Mr. Peel — that he had been permitted to mark out his grant
on the map, in England — and that, having selected it about
the port or landing-place, he subsequently took possession
of it, to the great injury of other settlers.

38
The writer is here in error with respect both to the extent
and the situation of this grant; for, without reference to Mr.
Peel's claim to a larger quantity, the tract assigned him con
sists of but half the number of acres stated, and the distance
between its nearest point and the port, is about seven miles.
From thence, the grant extends along the shore to the south
ward, as far as the right bank of the Murray river, and,
inland, about thirteen miles.
It is true that in the agreement entered into with Mr.
Peel, he was authorized, when in England, to mark out a
portion of his grant on the map ; and the situation he selected
reached from the Swan to the Canning river, and extended
towards the port : but his obtaining possession of this grant,
was made contingent on his arriving in the colony with a
stipulated amount of property and number of souls by an
appointed day. He failed to arrive within the limits of the
time fixed ; and the land reserved for him was, in conformity
with instructions from his Majesty's Government, granted
to other settlers.
In the passage already quoted, an accusation is re
peated which was circulated at the period in question
— that the large grant of land made to Mr. Peel was an
especial favour conferred on him in consideration of his
relationship to one of his Majesty's Ministers then in office.
This seems a suitable occasion for examining as to the
correctness of that charge. On reference to the correspon
dence on the subject, published by order of the House of
Commons, it appears that, on its being known that His Ma
jesty's Government intended to form a colony in Western
Australia, four gentlemen, one of whom was Mr. Peel,
submitted to the Secretary of State, Sir George Murray, a
proposal to send out a large body of emigrants to the
settlement, on condition of obtaining a proportionate grant
of land there. This proposal was agreed to, except as

39
to some minor details — which modification, however, caused
three of the association to withdraw from it ; and, on this,
an offer was made by Mr. Peel to complete the project by
himself, to which the Government acceded.
The terms agreed on were these, — that half a million of
acres should be allotted to Mr. Peel, after the arrival of a
vessel sent out by him, with four hundred settlers ; and if,
at the expiration of the year 1840, it should be found that
the requisite investment in the colony of one shilling
and sixpence the acre had been made, another half million
of acres would then be assigned him by degrees, as fresh
importations of settlers and capital were made ; in ac
cordance with the original terms published at the colonial
office. Mr. Peel was also informed that the tract of two
hundred and fifty thousand acres (to which extent the
association had been allowed a priority of choice) would
be reserved for him until the 1st of November 1829; and
further, that, should he fail in his contract, and arrive sub
sequently to the above period, or with fewer emigrants than
stipulated, he would still have granted to him as many
acres as his actual number of settlers and amount of in
vestment would cover, at the rate of forty acres for every
three pounds sterling.
The tract marked out by Mr. Peel and his partners on
the map having been given to others, the Governor offered
him two hundred and fifty thousand acres in another part of
the colony, which he took, as above mentioned ; and, up to
the period of the author's departure from that country, he
was not aware of Mr. Peel's having taken any steps towards
establishing a claim to an additional quantity of land.
If then it be borne in mind that, towards the fulfil
ment of this agreement on his part, Mr. Peel introduced into
the colony a population, to the amount (if the work just
quoted be correct) of 300 souls, and a property of 50,000/. ;

40
and if the evident risk is also considered, it will, it is
apprehended, be generally admitted, that few who would
regard the enterprise solely as a commercial speculation,
would have accepted the grant on the terms represented as
so favourable to Mr. Peel.
After observing upon this grant, this writer proceeds to
state the coilditions on which other settlers obtained land
in the following passage : — " It was declared that all the
world should be entitled to unlimited grants on either one
of tM'o conditions, as the grantee should prefer ; either an
outlay of one shilling and sixpence per acre in conveying
labourers to the settlement, or the investment of capital on
the land at the rate of one shilling and sixpence per acre."
These conditions, he goes on to contend, are at variance
with each other ; but on this point his information has been
erroneous. No land could be obtained on the second con
dition ; and, on the first, land was assigned in occupancy
only (it still continuing crown land), until the improvement
required by the second condition was effected, when the oc
cupant became entitled to the fee-simple ; but, if he failed
to effect the improvement within a stipulated period, his
grant reverted to the Crown.
The above remarks will equally apply to the work on
South Australia, already noticed (which quotes from
"England and America" most of the statements here
animadverted upon), and also to a paper in the "Literary
Gazette" for November 1831, containing similar errors,
and whicli article is quoted by the first-mentioned work.
Some allusion may here be expected to the statements
that have been made on the subject of labour. The writer of
"England and America," in a passage already quoted,
asserts, that in this colony — " there never has been a class
of labourers." The Literary Gazette of November 1831
states, that " to the want of labour, and to that alone, may

41
be traced all the evils that have afflicted this infant settle
ment." A third writer (that on "South Australia") adds
— " they may be traced, not to a want of labour absolutely,
for plenty of workmen were taken to the colony by the
first emigrant capitalists ; but to the want of arrangements
for having constancy and combination of labour."
These writers explain their meaning by asserting, that
when the indentured servants, on their arrival in the colony,
found good land so easily to be acquired, they left their mas
ters with impunity, and became landowners.
These representations have already been shown to be
in material points erroneous, by quoting the Government
regulation, which prevented labourers from acquiring land
without consent of their masters; and by demonstrating that,
to the latter, the services of their people were secured, by an
efficient administration of the laws. It is true, many of the
labouring class went to Van Diemen's Land, but this was
with consent of their masters. Some capitalists (looking
chiefly to the land they would acquire from the number of
people they brought out) had large families in their service ;
but, finding the outlay required for their maintenance to
exceed so much their expectations, they granted discharges
to as many as they could dispense with.
The rate of labour in the colony has always been high —
from thirty to forty shillings a month, with rations costing
about as much more. The usual daily wages of a labourer
have been five shillings, and, of an artificer, frora eight to ten.
As to the scarcity of labour there, the author does not
recollect any period at which agricultural or other labourers
could not be had, unless occasionally in the harvest time ;
and then those farmers who offered higher wages than ordi
nary seldom failed in getting them. The contrary indeed
was not unfrequent — that labourers had a difficulty in get
ting employment.

42
The apparent contradiction between the high price of
labour and the occasional want of employment, will be
cleared up when the high price of provisions is considered,
and also the want of capital to give employment to that
labour — evils which have resulted from causes already ad
verted to.

It now remains for the author to offer a few observations,
(1.) On the failures that occurred among the early
settlers. (2.) On the origin of the reports so widely circulated
to the prejudice of the country.
(3.) On the tardy progress of the colony, compared
with what had been expected.
The following extract from one of the earliest dispatches
of the Governor (written in January 1830, and addressed to
the Secretary of State) will serve to preface these remarks,
as it bears immediately on the first point. Adverting to
the circumstances under which the first settlers came out,
he thus proceeds : — " There could not be a great number
with minds and bodies suited to encounter the struggle and
distresses of a new settlement. Many, if not all, have
accordingly been more or less disappointed on arrival, with
either the state of things here, or their own want of power
to surmount the difficulties pressing around them. This has
been experienced, in the beginning, by every new colony;
and might have been expected to occur here, as well as else
where. The greater part, incapable of succeeding in Eng
land, are not likely to prosper here to the extent of their
groundless and inconsiderate expectations. Many of the
settlers who have come, should never have left in England a

43
safe and tranquil state of life ; and, if it be possible to dis
courage one set of people, and to encourage another, I would
earnestly request that, for a few years, the helpless and in
efficient may be kept from the settlement; whilst, as to
the active, industrious, and intelligent, they may be assured
with confidence of a fair reward for their labours."
If, after what has been said, it be granted that Western
Australia, as far as natural advantages go, is well suited for the
purposes of colonization, still it will be apparent, from the
principle on which the colony was founded, that its success
must be greatly dependent on the capital and exertions of
the settlers. The charge of maintaining a military and a
civil establishment being all his Majesty's Government was
pledged to, every other expense was to be borne by the emi
grant ; such as his outfit, voyage, and settlement in the
colony. No arrangement prior to leaving England having been
made by the emigrants to ensure the advantages of co-ope
ration on the part of their friends at home, and among them
selves in the colony, each depended on his own energy and
resources for his success ; and the foregoing description of
many of the original settlers will account for the disap
pointments that ensued in various instances.
Few who abandoned the settlement under such circum
stances, were willing to admit their failure was the result
of their own want of exertion, or their unfitness for the
enterprise in which they had embarked : accordingly,
wherever they went, and in their letters home, the blame
was laid on the country. Thus many of the evil reports
respecting it, which were current at home and in the neigh
bouring colonies, maybe traced to this source. Of this, the
following is a striking instance.
Among those who first settled at Perth, was a tradesman,
who had been in such circumstances in England as enabled

44
him to bring out a wooden house, and whatever else was re
quisite for the convenience of his family. This man, whose
trade was a good one, seemed a respectable and well-informed
person ; but, getting little business, and not embarking in
agricultural pursuits, he soon became addicted to intem
perance ; and, shortly after, sold off the remainder of his pro
perty, and removed to the Cape of Good Hope. There — not
contented with disseminating the worst reports of Western
Australia, little of which, if any, he could have seen, except
the sandy district of the coast — he industriously sought out
those emigrants who touched at the Cape ; and, after telling
them he had but lately left Swan River, proceeded to give
such a description of the country as was calculated to deter
them from prosecuting their voyage thither.
A settler, who had suffered severely from confiding in the
reports of this person and others, related to the author the
following particulars : — He had left England for Western
Australia in a ship chartered by himself, and freighted
with his own establishment, stores of all kinds, and live
stock — the latter, of choice breeds ; and his people, amount
ing in immber to seventy persons, or upwards. The reports
he heard on his arrival at the Cape, deterred him from con
tinuing his enterprise; and, inconsequence, he discharged his
ship, with a number of his people — sold most of his live
stock at less than the English price ; and then proceeded
with his family, and remaining establishment, in another
vessel bound to Van Diemen's Land, with a view of settling
there. Touching at the Swan, on his voyage, he had an op
portunity of examining the country for himself; and, so
pleased was he with it, that he resumed his purpose of
settling there, although the step he had taken at the Cape
had occasioned him a loss of, at least, several thousand
pounds— and he has now, for some years, been located on
the Swan.

45
A prevalent cause of distress among the early settlers
arose from their having generally brought out with them little
ready money, compared with their other property. This
was chiefly owing to the Government regulations admitting
of land being assigned to those only, who introduced la
bourers and various kinds of property required by farmers.
Many of the settlers, therefore, to the extent of their
means, were in this way amply provided; but, having under
stood in England, that money would be of little use in a
new country, numbers, without questioning what they wished
to be true, incautiously expended most of their means in the
property that would entitle them to obtain land in the colony.
However, when they had been some time in the settlement,
they discovered that there — as in other places — money was
needful ; and, on wishing to procure some by the sale of
part of their property, they found it difficult to do so without
loss, in consequence of most other settlers having brought
out similar investments.
Another cause of depression, which has borne seriously
on the settlers, has been the occasional high price of the
necessaries of life. With a view of remedying this evil,
cargoes of provisions have been repeatedly imported by the
Local Government — the actual cost alone being charged to
the settler. Even a ship-load of bullocks and pigs was in
troduced from Java. It was found impracticable, however,
to follow up this plan, from the loss it entailed, owing to
the want of suitable storehouses, at that early period, for
securing the grain and other provisions so imported from
the weather, the ravages of vermin, and, especially, the
white ant. Besides, numbers of the bullocks and pigs
getting loose, soon became as wild and difficult to re
capture, as if they had been natives of the woods, whither
they had betaken themselves.
As another mode of keeping down the markets, an ar-

46
rangement was entered into by the Government with some
merchants, who engaged to prevent, by their importations,
the prices from rising above a fixed standard : but the
smaUness and variableness of the demand operated to frus
trate this measure likewise.
Experience has shown that the system of free grants,
which was the first adopted in Western Australia, is de
cidedly injurious to the prosperity of a settlement, from
the facility it affords to persons possessed of comparatively
little capital, to acquire extensive tracts of land, the greater
part of which, for want of means, they cannot use for agri
cultural or pastoral purposes. It also occasions the too wide
dispersion of the settlers ; thus necessarily increasing the
expense of government, and, at the same time, producing
serious inconvenience to the farmer.
To counteract these evils, several causes have been in opera
tion. On the distribution of land to the first settlers on the
Swan and the Canning, a remedy was provided by a judi
cious arrangement on the part of the Governor, restricting
the river frontage of the grants to a seventh or an eighth of
what it would have been, had they been given in squares ;
and as, for the convenience of water carriage, and from the
superiority of the land, all erected their dwellings on the
banks of the rivers, the settlers were thus brought as near
each other, as if the grants had been reduced to the square of
this narrow frontage on the rivers. Chiefly owing to this
arrangement it happens, that on the Upper Swan, near where
the river debouches from the gorge of the hills, there are
thirteen grants, each from 2000 to 7000 acres in extent ; the
farthest removed of which is within a mile and a half of a
central point — and On nine of them are the habitations of
their respective proprietors. By another Government regu
lation, persons entitled to large grants are restricted to a
limited quantity of land on the rivers in question, and are

47
required to select elsewhere the remainder due to them.
A further remedy has resulted from merchants and others
living in the towns of Perth and Fremantle (and to whom
grants in occupancy had been made) transferring half of
their land to other persons, on condition of their making
the improvements requisite to entitle the former to the fee
simple of the whole. In this way, and by sale, all grants
on the Swan, exceeding 5000 acres, have been reduced. But
it is important here to add, that his Majesty's regulations,
which took effect in 1832, abolished the system of free
grants in the colony, and directed the sale of all crown land
at the minimum price of five shillings the acre. Since that
period, the evil has been rapidly diminishing ; and will, after
a time, be completely removed.
Many of the original settlers in possession of large tracts,
have exhausted their funds in establishing themselves, and
would gladly sell a portion of their land, which those newly
arrived will purchase in preference to crown land, as better
situated, and doubtless much cheaper.
Should it be apprehended that the extent of Mr. Peel's
grant (so much exceeding what he could farm himself)
would in any degree counteract the benefit expected from
the present system, the circumstance of his grant being
situated on the sea coast is to be considered ; for, though it
includes exeellent land, particularly on the Murray, yet, as
the interior confessedly contains the best land in the
colony, future emigrants will most probably select their
locations in that quarter.

CHAPTER IV.

First difficulties of the Colony surmounted— Fremantle— Perth— Guildford—
Land and Water comraunication— Canal— Principal Farms on the Swan
River— The Canning — York District— Murray River — Port Leschenault
—Vasse's Inlet — Port Augusta — The Blackwood River — King George's
Sound.

It may now be desirable to take a view of the present
condition of the settlement, and to enlarge a little on its
prospects. The colony maybe considered as having already
surmounted the most trying stage of its existence. An
emigrant now arriving at Swan River will find that society
there has passed through its primary state, and mil be
likely to witness with surprise the progress it has actually
made. On approaching Fremantle from the sea, the site of the
town is indicated by a handsome octagonal building of white
cut stone, erected near the edge of a precipice which over
hangs the mouth of the river. On landing, the stranger has
the pleasure of entering a small but neat town, with wide
streets, some of which have been macadamized. The streets
are laid out at right angles with each other, and the houses are
constructed either of white stone, or of wood that is painted

49
over. As there is abundance of fine limestone on the spot,
it is probable that this will be the material chiefly resorted
to for building there in future. Fremantle contains several
hotels, where travellers may partake of excellent accommoda
tion and a good table. The principal one is equal in appear
ance and comfort to a good English country inn. Invalids
from India, accustoraed to every luxury, have been thoroughly
satisfied with their entertainraent there, and have written to
their friends in India to that effect. The shops and stores
are provided with almost every thing the settlers are likely
to require.
If the traveller wishes to proceed to Perth, the seat of
Governraent, he may easily procure good horses or boats on
hire. There are also regular passage-boats, by which the
distance is accomplished within a couple of hours. The
water communication between Fremantle and Perth is by
means of an estuary, extending ten miles into the interior,
and to which the general name of the Swan is given ; but
the river of that narae enters it near Perth. The estuary
has for several miles a winding course through pleasing
and romantic scenery, and is from two furlongs to more
than a mile across. The banks are studded with rocks of
grotesque and singular shapes ; some, half concealed by
shrubs and trees, while others are naked and precipitous.
The passage is rendered circuitous by long spits of sand,
to avoid which the boats have often to go a considerable
way round to keep in deep water. After clearing these,
the traveller enters Melville Water, which is some six miles
in length, and four in width, having in the distance a fine
view of the Darling Range. Proceeding on his course, he
leaves the mouth of the Canning about four miles on his
right ; and, passing through a narrow strait at the foot of
Mount Eliza, a richly wooded hill on his left, discovers the
town of Perth, beautifully situated on one of its declivi-
E

50
ties, and extending along the ^hore of a somewhat circular
bay. In going by land from Fremantle to Perth, the traveller
follows the road to Preston Point, which is a mile and a
half higher up on the estuary ; where he finds a horse-ferry
to take him across to the opposite bank, from whence there
is a road leading directly to Perth. This road is through a
sandy tract, generally loose, and mostly an open forest.
Midway there is a good hotel, built of stone, and two
stories high.
The town of Perth is much more scattered than that of
Fremantle, and is partially concealed by some fine trees
which have been left standing. The main street extends
about a mile along a ridge which runs parallel with the
water's edge. Most of the houses are of wood, but some
good ones of brick have been erected; and as bricks are
made on the spot, and stone can be brought by barges from
Mount Eliza, it is not likely that any more wooden houses
will be built. It may be here well to caution emigrants
against bringing out wooden houses from England. They
are very uncomfortable dwellings in such a climate, for not
only are they liable to warp and shrink, and thus to admit
too freely the external air; but, if constructed with ever such
well-seasoned materials, they are rarely a sufficient protec
tion from heat and cold. In a wooden house with a thatched
roof, situated at Fremantle, Fahrenheit's thermometer stood
16° higher in the hot season than it did in a stone house
close by. The appearance of the town of Perth is consider
ably enhanced by the officers' barracks, and those of the
private soldiers ; the other public buildings are, the jail, and
an extensive commissariat store. In this town are several
comfortable inns. One of them is kept by George Hodges,
a discharged soldier of the 63rd regiment. This settler
owes his prosperity in the colony chiefly to the prudence

51 ^
and good management of his wife. Having a knowledge of
baking, she commenced in a very small way at Perth ; and,
being noted for her steady conduct and integrity, merchants
and masters of vessels entrusted her with considerable quan
tities of flour, for which she paid with punctuality. From
her success in this, and other undertakings, her husband
has now the principal bakery and inn, besides a general
shop. Equally successful is Edward Barron, the proprietor
of another inn there, who had also been in the 63rd regi
ment, Sergeant-Major of the detachment. His wife, whose
dairy is one of the most extensive in the colony, principally
supplies the town with milk and butter.
Perth contains several good shops, and merchants' stores.
Horses and boats can be obtained here, as at Fremantle,
on hire. The church is the only one in the colony. It
is a temporary building, erected a few months after the es
tablishment of the town in 1829, under the direction of
Archdeacon Scott, who, on his way to England frora New
South Wales, happened to arrive in the colony at that period
in H. M. ship Success ; and to whose gratuitous and zealous
services, as an officiating clergyman, for several months
prior to the arrival of Mr. Wittenoom, the colonial chaplain,
the colonists were deeply indebted. Mr. Wittenoom is, up
to this time, the only minister of the gospel, of any denomi
nation, in the settlement.
LeavingPerth, the Swan winds considerably towards Guild
ford, a village on its left bank. The distance between these
places by water, following the channel of the river, is about
twelve miles ; but, during summer, considerable difficulty is
at present experienced in crossing the " Flats," whieh are
shoals a little above Perth, and extend about a mile. To
remedy this, the Government has cut a canal, about a
quarter of a mile long ; and so serpentine is the river in that
part, that the undertaking, when completed, will shorten the
e2

52
distance about three miles. The engineer's plan involves
the damming up of the river, in order to turn its waters into
the canal, which at present is but partially filled.
The distance by land from Perth to Guildford is but seven
miles. The road is on the right bank of the river, and having
bridges over the brooks and ravines, there is communication
for carriages, but from the sandy nature of the ground the
travelling is heavy. As there is a stiff soil on the opposite
side, it is intended to take advantage of the proposed dam,
and carrying the road across there, to continue it from
thence along the left bank.
Between Perth and Guildford, on both banks of the
river, there are several good farms. The land is confessedly
inferior to that above Guildford, but here is seen what steadi
ness, perseverance, and skill, can accomplish even under dis
advantages. Among those who have farms in this quarter,
are, the Messrs. Hardy, farmers from Lincolnshire, and the
Messrs. Clarkson, from Yorkshire. These settlers have
arable as well as grazing farms, and so early as 1 833, had
reared a race of tall handsome horses from a large breed
they brought out with them, and crossed with Cape mares.
In visiting the location of Mr. Joseph Hardy, the writer
was struck with the comfort and neatness exhibited in
his dwelling and out-buildings, as well as with the excel
lent arrangement of his farm altogether; but, more parti-
cularl}!-, when Mr. Hardy informed hira that it was all
the work of his own hands, with the occasional aid of a
farm servant. His house seeraed to have no sawn timber
in it, except the doors and windows. The walls were
constructed of stakes driven into the ground, and interlaced
with wattles, the space within being filled with mud-mortar,
and the whole plastered so as to present a smooth surface.
The roof was constructed without nails, except those which
fastened the rafters ; the lathing was secured by rope-yarn.

53
The covering was thatcb, made of a fine sort of rush, that
lies more compact than straw, and when clipped, has a very
neat appearance. Many of the farm houses are of this
description, and are erected at a trifling expense ; they are
every way preferable, both in summer and winter, to wooden
houses. The following is an extract from a letter, dated Peninsula
Farm, 14th July 1832, and addressed to the author, by this
praiseworthy settler. The document has already appeared
in one of Mr. Cross's publications, and is quoted here for
the excellent spirit and qualities it exhibits; and also, as
showing the success which may generally be expected to
result from that union of judgment, perseverance, and for
titude, the importance of which has been, in the early pages
of this pamphlet, pointed out to the emigrant.
"Februarys, 1830, arrived at Swan River, in the brig Tranby,
from Hull, and found many of the emigrants in their tents at Fre
mantle, generally dissatisfied, and full of complaints respecting the
colony, and some of them ready for going away. The flats up the
Swan, the badness of the soil, the heat of the weather, with many
other things of the same kind, appeared to be subjects of general
conversation, when worshipping at the shrine of Bacchus ; and, after
being assailed on every hand by such miserable comforters, I found
it necessary to leave them, and go to look for myself; and after reach
ing the Peninsula (where I now reside), was convinced that the land
was of a useful character, and might be made to suit the general
purposes of agriculture, although inferior to much of the land higher
up the Swan. The first three or four months were taken up by house
and boat-building, getting up the goods from Fremantle to the Penin
sula, &c. &e. In June we began to clear the land, and plough for
wheat, barley, oats, rye, &c., all of which came up well ; but the
fences not being sufficiently good, the cattle broke in, and destroyed
a great part of the crop — that which escaped their ravages came to
maturity, and was of a very good description. The last year, 1831
has convinced me that when the land can have tillage, and proper
management, it will grow wheat, barley, oats, rye, potatoes, and tur
nips, in great abundance: very good specimens of the aforesaid

54
articles were produced tlie last year— tlie average weight of wheat
from 621bs. to 651bs. the bushel. ****** As it respects
the colony at large, there is little doubt but it will succeed, and well, if
it receive that encouragement and support which all colonies need in
their infancy. We have already seen the wilderness become a fruit
ful field, bending beneath the gentle breeze, and are looking forward
to the* time when every diligent man shall be aurrou/nded with peace
and plenty."
At the date of this letter, Mr. Hardy purcliased from the
Governor, then about to return to England, some cows of
Colonel Arbuthnot's famous short-horned breed. For these
he gave forty pounds a piece, and, as tbe author was told,
paid for them out of the produce of the preceding harvest.
At Guildford the town-grants amount to from two to four
acres each. Here are some industrious small farmers
(principally brought out by Mr. Peel). As soon as these
men had built cottages, and performed tbe location duties
on their first grants, others were assigned tbem by the
Government. This village has a very interesting appear
ance, and covers- a considerable space of ground. Each cot
tage is surrounded by its garden, and has fields neatly
fenced contiguous.
The Helena river, flowing from the east, joins the Swan
at Guildford. It takes its rise in an elevated plain, within
the Darling range, and pursues a course of from fifty to
sixty miles thror^b a valley which is in many parts rocky,
and singularly beaiutifol and romantic. As this river ap
proaches the Swan, its banks present some of the richest
alluvial sail hitherto found in the country. Here Sir James
Stirling has a farm, extending across from one river to the
other, and which has been highly improved. Woodbridge,
his country residence, is a cottage orn^, beautifully placed
on a high bank, which overhangs the Swan, and conimand-
ing a view of two fine reaches of the river. On the opposite
bank is th« residence of Mr. Walcot, whose farm, garden.

65
and establishment, are such as a traveller would be pleated
to find even at the Cape, but much more so in a recent
settlement : the same observation applies to a number of
other farms in the colony. In this vicinity, and within a
distance of three miles, are the residences of the following
gentlemen : — Messrs. Tanner, M'Dermott, Ridley, Whit
field, Thompson, Trimmer (two). Wells, Lewis, Boyd,
Brown, Drummond, and Captain Meares, late of the Life
Guards^ — Mr. Tanner is one of the most scientific and
extensive farmers in the colony, and has directed his attention
both to sheep farming and tillage. He possesses one of the
best grants at the head of the river ; and which, after consi
derably improving and erecting thereon a house and offices,
he has let. He now rents the Governor's farm (on which
he resides), and another in the neighbourhood; besides
occupying a third there, which is his own property. —
Mr. M'Dermott, after many years spent in the service of
his country as a military officer, is now distinguished by
his activity and unwearied devotedness to his new avoca
tions. — Captain Meares, as a settler, still retains the energy
and activity which he displayed while a cavalry officer.
With a view to the comfort of his numerous and amiable
family, he is residing at present near Guildford, but his
principal grant is on the Murray. — Lieut. Roe, R.N., the
Surveyor- General, has a fine grant in this neighbourhood,
to the improvement of which, he has not yet been able to
tum his attention : his professional duties are laborious, and
greatly occupy his time. This gentleman was for several
years employed in surveying the coast of New Holland, under
Captain Philip King, R.N., and owes his present appointment
to the peculiar talent he displayed on that service.
As the traveller continues ascending the river, he passes
the farm of Dr. Harris, and those of Messrs. Andrews and
Yule. The establishment of the latter gentleman is one of

56
the most complete. His people are Scotch ; and, by their
trust-worthiness and sobriety, added to industry and skill in
their occupations, and, above all, their attention to their chil
dren's education, and their observance ofthe sabbath, they up
hold the high character generally acceded to the Scottish pea
sant both at home and abroad. — Further on is the establish
ment of Mr. Lennard ; and nearly opposite to it, on the left
bank, is that of Mr. Brockman. These gentlemen are among
the most extensive and successful farmers and graziers in the
colony, and practise the improved modes of culture adopted
in Essex and Kent, from which counties they respectively
come. Above these are several smaller farmers, and some
grants of non-resident proprietors.
Still higher up the river, and extending beyond where
it is navigable, the following proprietors have estates : —
Messrs. Moore, Tanner, Shaw, Brown, Burgess (three).
Bull, Leake, Mackie, and several others. The settlers here
are deserving of distinguished notice. Mr. Moore (the
Advocate General) possesses a considerable flock of sheep,
and, in the intervals of his official occupations, takes great
interest in his farm and garden. — Mr. Shaw, who was an
officer in the Rifle brigade, is also a sheep-farmer, and is
most laborious and indefatigable in prosecuting his agricul
tural pursuits. — Mr. Brown (the Colonial Secretary) has
one of the best farms in this part, which, with a comfortable
house and offices upon it, is let to another settler. This
gentleman has also one of the most improved farms in the
neighbourhood of Guildford. — The three Messrs. Burgess,
who are brothers, rival Mr. Shaw in the spirit with which
they follow up their occupations. In addition to their own,
they rent the farm of Mr. Tanner in this vicinity, and like
wise carry on a brewery. — Mr. Leake, \vho is one of the
first merchants in the colony, and Government Resident
at Fremantle, is connected with Mr. Bull in his farming

57
speculations, in which they have been remarkably success
ful. — Henley Park, so named by Sir James Stirling, when
he explored the country in 1827, from its resemblance to
the estate of a relation of his in Surrey, — is the joint pro
perty of Mr. Mackie, the colonial judge, and of the writer ;
and it is chiefly to their steward, Richard Edwards (already
noticed as a settler brought out by Mr. Peel), that they are
indebted for the high state of cultivation to which the farm
and garden have been brought.
With a view of showing what can be done by a single
energetic mind, it may be useful to give a slight sketch of
what Edwards has accomplished. One of the first things
he set about was, to prepare materials for a substantial
house, for which purpose he raade and burnt bricks and tiles
out of the clay required to be reraoved to clear the founda
tion of the house, thereby saving the expense and labour of
carriage. He had to explore the country to ascertain where
the best lime could be procured. This he found, at the
time, no nearer than in one of the bays of Melville Water,
below Perth ; whence, after burning, he brought it up in
boats. The timber, which was mahogany, cut down on the
estate, was sawn and prepared by his son, the carpenter,
with the assistance of another man ; while he hiraself was
the bricklayer and builder. The house is double, consisting
of two stories, and is one of the largest in the colony.
In the farm-yard he has many ingenious contrivances to
meet the wants and habits of its various tribes. His geese
and ducks are provided with ample ponds, in the sides of
which he has constructed dwellings suitable to them, where
they find protection from the heat, and security from the
native dog, the only animal they have to fear. His cattle
and pigs are kept in fine order.
In the improvement of the gardens he takes peculiar de
light, and is very successful ; having a good knowledge of

58
horticulture, acquired by serving an apprenticeship to a mar
ket gardener. The spot he fixed upon for his first one was
a somewhat elevated morass, on sloping ground, separated
from the house by a ravine, and covered with rank vegeta
tion, owing to latent springs. These, after burning off the
surface, he dug out, and formed into circular wells of close
and substantial brick-work, rising several layers above the
surface : from these wells, at different elevations, he is ena
bled to conduct the water in channels to almost every part
of the garden. When the last accounts left, he was con
structing earthen pipes for the purpose of completing his
plans of irrigation, and also for conveying water across the
ravine to the height on which the house is situated. In
this garden, and in another larger one, hereafter to be
noticed, almost every kind of vegetable, and as many sorts
of fruit-trees as have been introduced from tropical and
extra-tropical countries, are found to flourish. Among the
former was the mangel-wurzel, already mentioned as having
a root six feet in circumference; the tomato grows here luxu
riantly, weighed down with the load of its beautiful fruit,
which gives so fine a flavour to sauces, soups, &c. Among
the fruit-trees, he has raised many hundred almonds and
Cape-gooseberries, the latter a delicious fruit, producing
every month ; and also figs and vines in abundance, the
latter bearing grapes of a fine and rich flavour.
In front of the house are about two hundred acres of rich
meadow, encircled nearly by the river. The situation of a
part of this meadow attracted his notice, from its being
inclosed between the river, and a natural moat of a semicir
cular form. This moat he dug out, to a considerable depth
and breadth, throwing the soil on the inner banks of the
inclosure, which he faced with a firm wall of green turf,
and made to slope down gradually on the inner side. Along
the whole extent of this sloping bank, which is of the finest

59
alluvial soil, are planted in profusion vegetables and fruit-
trees. The bank shelves down to a walk made all round
within the inclosure, an area of about thirty acres. Most
of the interior is now under cultivation, bearing crops of
wheat, oats, and barley. He intends, both here and in the
garden before mentioned, to shelter some of the walks from
the sun by trellised vines. There is also, adjoining this
latter garden, and separated from the house by the ravine
fore alluded to, a small rocky hill, favourable for vines,
and which he has marked out for a vineyard. In addition
to the above, is laid out — in front of the house, and on the
slope of the hill, where there are no springs — a winter
garden, in which he has displayed considerable ingenuity
and taste. His two smaller gardens are from one to two
acres each.
In his agricultural pursuits Edwards has been equally
successful. He seems to have acquired his knowledge of
farming, while following his trade of a master-brickmaker in
Gloucestershire, in consequence of having purchased a few
acres of the Forest of Dean, which he reclaimed and made
into a farm. At times when the necessaries of life have
been very scarce and dear in the colony, he has provided
for his family in abundance ; and has added to their com
forts within the last two years by availing himself of his
knowledge of malting and brewing. This indefatigable man
has found time for performing the location duties on an
adjoining estate, the half of which, amounting to from two to
three thousand acres, he obtained as a return from the owner,
himself a merchant at Fremantle. He also made the bricks,
and constructed the walls, of a dwelling-house recently erected
by Mr. Bull, who resides within a mile of him. — The writer
has occupied a much larger space than he intended with
these minute details, partly to do justice to a faithful and
valuable servant, and principally with a view of conveying

60
some useful instruction to those who may have yet to learn
what are the requisites for a successful colonist.*
To return from this digression, it is impossible to leave
this part of the colony without giving some account of the
really splendid establishment of Mr. Bull. This gentleman
is a Lieutenant in the Navy, and affords a striking proof how
well qualified officers in his branch of the public service may
be to become settlers, from the energy and fortitude to
which their professional habits give rise. He had acquired
some knowledge of farming during a residence in Bedford
shire. Mr. Bull appears to have had in his eye the solid
comfort of the substantial English farmer of the olden time.
His kitchen, which is lofty and spacious, and has a fire-place
of corresponding dimensions, is well garnished with flitches
of bacon and other tokens of good cheer. After sharing
with his numerous servants in their various employments —
often himself holding the plough — it was his custom to sit
down with them, presiding at the head of a long table plenti
fully furnished with plain but excellent fare, chiefly the pro
duce of his own farm ; to which were added good beer and
ale, from barley grown, malted, and brewed, on the premises.
The quantity he raises of wheat and other grain, and also
of hay, equals, if not exceeds, the produce of any other
colonist. His mill, which was constructed under his own
direction, and is worked by horses, not only grinds the flour
which is used in his own establishment, but returns him a
considerable profit, by what it grinds for other settlers.
Among his numerous cattle, are some of the finest cows in
the colony, the genuine produce of the Duke of Bedford's
famous breed, obtained directly from Woburn. This gen
tleman, after having, by his strenuous exertions, overcome
* It ought to be mentioned, to the credit of this English yeoman, that
when a project was started some time ago of supplying the religious wants of
this part of the settlement, he expressed his desire to contribute by giving his
gratuitous services, as a builder &c., towards thc erection of a church.

61
the difficulties of establishing himself in a new country, and
provided an excellent home, has corapleted his comforts by
marrying a lady in the colony, whose management of his
extensive dairy, and of those departments which are under
her immediate superintendence, is equally admirable with
that of her husband in his peculiar avocations. The butter
and cheese from Mrs. Bull's dairy are in great request in the
market. — The writer cannot take leave of this fine establish
ment and its owners without bearing his testimony to the
hospitality which reigns there ; nor can be omit to mention
that, by the settlers in general, this virtue is practised to
an extent that he has not seen surpassed among the various
civilized and barbarous nations that it has been his lot to
visit, while on foreign service, or in the course of somewhat
extensive travels when on leave of absence, from his youth
upwards.

In proceeding by water from Perth to the Canning, the
traveller has to pass through that part of the estuary called
Melville Water, from which he enters the river in question.
A short distance above its mouth, there are flats similar to
those in the Swan, that impede the navigation, and over
which it is necessary, in the dry season, to shove the boats
about half a mile. The Canning is much narrower than the
Swan, and navigable a less distance ; but the principal farms
on its banks are accessible by its raeans. Frora Perth to
the mouth of the Canning it is about five miles, and the
principal locations are situated about six or seven miles up
the stream.
By land there are two roads by which this district may
be reached ; one of them sets out from the point opposite
Mount Eliza, where there is a horse-ferry. This is a bush-

62
road used by carts, and the distance to the chief farms is
about ten miles from the point. The other road goes round
by Guildford, from whence there is still eight miles further
to cross to the Canning. The road is of a similar descrip
tion to the other. There is a shallow lagoon midway from
Guildford, but, having a hard bottom, it presents no serious
obstacle to the traveller.
The principal proprietors on the Canning are. Major
Nairne, Messrs. Phillips and Davis, Captains Bannister
and Pegus, Messrs. Bull, Yule, Hester, Gregory, Bickley,
Leroux, Drake, and Morgan. The most improved farm
is that of Major Nairne, who furnishes a striking instance
that officers, military as well as naval, are calculated by
their professional habits to become efficient settlers in a
new country. This gentleman, who had been in his Ma
jesty's 46th regiment nearly half a century, is not surpassed
in energy and enterprise by any settler in the colony. Find
ing, on his arrival in 1831, that horses and other working
stock were much in demand, he took the first opportunity to
proceed to Van Diemen's Land ; and shortly after, returned
with a cargo of horses and cattle of a very useful descrip
tion, which he sold to advantage. Subsequently, the estate
of which he is now in possession came into the market;
when, finding the land was excellent, and had been much
improved by its owner Mr. Phillips, who had also built on
it a good house and offices, he purchased the whole, includ
ing some stock, for upwards of 2000Z., and commenced farm
ing with vigour. On one occasion after harvest, not finding
a ready sale for his crops, and knowing that in Madras he
could sell his potatoes, which formed a considerable part
of them, to great advantage, the Major purchased a vessel
of about 70 tons burden, then lying in Gage's Roads, in
which he proceeded with his produce to Madras ; and re
turned from thence with a cargo laid in there] after having

63
disposed of his original one to good account. — Mr. Phillips
has taken another grant, adjoining that which he sold to
Major Nairne, where he has renewed his farming operations.
Mr. P. is not only skilful in farming pursuits, but has a
knowledge of mechanics, and has been his own engineer in
the erection of a flour mill. — Some of those who have occu
pied the best cultivated farms in this district have let them
to others, and removed to better or more extensive grants on
the Swan, and in other parts. There is little natural meadow
on the Canning ; and, although sorae of the grants have a
considerable proportion of good land, yet this is far from
being generally the case.
Proceeding upwards, towards the source of the Canning,
between four and five miles above Major Nairne's farm, is
the small village of Kelmscott (also a military post), situ
ated on both banks of the river, where it issues, a narrow
stream, from the gorge of hills that form part of the Dar
ling Range. There is some excellent land in the neighbour
hood, which induced several capitalists to settle there ; but
after establishing themselves, they removed ; principally, it
is believed, in consequence of the site being too sequestered,
and remote from the markets. It is about three miles above
the part where the river is navigable.

The town of York lies in a due east direction from Guild
ford. The road is, at present, circuitous, owing to rocks,
trees, &c., which offer a temporary obstruction, and is about
fifty-five miles in length. It passes for about six miles over
a plain before it ascends the hills ; and proceeding for a simi
lar distance over the mountains, crosses a small stream,
which is a branch of the Helena. The line of this stream

64
has hitherto been nearly parallel to that of tlie road ; but it
here turns off to the south-east, in which direction the river
has its source. Further on, and about midway between
Guildford and York, is a farm, the owner of which has built
a good house for an inn. Descending the hills, the site of
the infant town of York is indicated by Mount Bakewell, a
conical hill on the west bank of the Avon. The town
locations are 50 acres each ; and are laid out round the base
of the hill, and along the river to the southward.
The situation is cheerful and open. Plains, resembling
park scenery, and bearing fine pasture for sheep, slope down
to the Avon. Mount Bakewell, and likewise some low hills
on the east bank, are covered with good pasture, which, when
turned yellow by the sun, has the appearance of rich crops ;
and, being contrasted with the evergreen shrubs and trees
scattered over the surface, greatly enlivens the landscape.
In summer, the bed of the river may be here crossed dry-
shod, although above and below there are fine deep reaches
of water a mile or two in length.
Among the settlers who have been the most prosperous
in the colony, are Messrs. Bland, A. Trimmer, and Heale,
who have been for several years located here. They have
succeeded admirably with their flocks, herds, and crops.
The two former gentlemen have now a flock of 1400 sheep.
The colonists seem now alive to the value of this fine dis
trict. The following is an extract from a letter of Sir
James Stirling, dated the 3rd of December last, and ad
dressed to Charles E. Mangles, Esq. : — " I have inspected
the York district, Bland's establishment, &c. They are in
a most prosperous condition ; and, undoubtedly, if Bland
live, he will be a man of great wealth. Other flocks are
now going over to that quarter, where there are one thou
sand square miles of the finest imaginable sheep land.
Amongst others. Lady Stirling's fine-woolled flock will

65
cross the hills in a few days, and every exertion is making
to procure sheep, it being evidently the best speculation in
this country." Sir James goes on to say, that he is strain
ing every nerve to promote investments of money in sheep,
in consequence of the extraordinary profit which sheep-
farming there is expected to yield. Some of the colonists,
actuated by sirailar expectations, have, as recent accounts
state, formed themselves into a company for the purchase of
sheep. Their proposal is to raise a fund by 100/. shares,
with a view to the profit arising from fine wool. They
anticipate that much expense will be saved by keeping com
bined flocks, in preference to having smaller ones, each
under a distinct shepherd. The plan will also furnish an
opportunity to persons who live in the towns, and are not
immediately engaged in farming pursuits, to participate in
such speculations. Among the most active members of this
association is Mr. Commissary Lewis, who is anxious to
encourage any scheme calculated to promote the welfare of
the settlement. He is possessed of a considerable grant in
the York district, and has, for some time, been a sheep pro
prietor,

The writer will now briefly advert to the out-stations on
the coast. Near the mouth of the estuary of the Murray
River, forty miles south of Fremantle, are settled, Mr. Peel,
Captain Byrne (late of the Rifle brigade), and Mr. Hall.
There are also other grants on which the proprietors are not
resident, principally owing to the feeling of insecurity that
has existed, from the hostile character of the Murray tribe.
Into this estuary, besides the Murray River, properly so
called, two smaller streams empty themselves. The cstuaey
varies from two to five miles in breadth, and its length
from north to south is about sixteen. The interio^in this

66
direction is but imperfectly known ; but it appears, from
recent explorations, to include some very rich land ; and,
should a good understanding be now established with the
natives there, it will probably prove a valuable district for
tillage and grazing. That it is well adapted to the latter
purpose, is indicated by the circumstance, that a consider
able herd of wild cattle in fine condition has been seen in
that quarter, which must have rapidly increased, being the
produce of such as had strayed from the Government herds,
and those of the settlers, at an early period of the colony.
Mr. Peel, though with a very reduced establishment, con
tinues to prosecute his farming operations with great energy
and perseverance ; and has displayed singular fortitude, con
sidering the severe losses he has sustained. — Capt. Byrne is
also an active and enterprising colonist, but has not long
been located on the Murray. He has a farm and house on
the Swan, which is let to advantage, and a grant in the
York district. — Mr. Hall, is a man of singular firmness
and intrepidity. He is residing, with his wife and children
and his servants, on the left bank of the river, the other
settlers being located on the opposite side. This gentle
man had mingled more with the aborigines in that district,
and obtained a greater influence over them, than any other
settler. He has been known to pass several days toge
ther along with them in the bush, and has thus acquired
a considerable knowledge of their habits and language.
A favourite project of his, just before the author left the
colony, was a fishery, which he had actually commenced
with the assistance of the natives ; and, on one occasion, he
came to Fremantle, along the coast, in his boat manned and
rowed by a party of them. The circumstance, while it
shows the remarkable influence this settler had acquired,
evinces also the docility and quickness of the natives. Mr.
Hall ispf a commanding appearance, and is generally habited

67
in a singular costume, of which a conical hat, usually worn
by Malays, forms not the least conspicuous part.

About fifty railes further to the south is Port Leschenault,
or more correctly speaking Leschenault Inlet, a part of the
coast much exposed, especially to the winds prevailing in
winter. Here two rivers, the Preston and the Collie, fall
into an estuary, which, like all the others on this coast, has
a bar-mouth, with depth of water sufficient only for boats
to enter. The best land in this neighbourhood is on the
banks of the Collie] and on the hills ; which last, however,
are heavily timbered. The plain country resembles that of
Swan River, but there are no settlers located on it. About
twenty-five miles further down the coast is Vasse's Inlet,
which is likewise exposed to the winter winds. The coun
try here is open, and considered well adapted for the plough,
or the breeding of cattle.

Some five miles further, proceeding towards the Black
wood and Augusta, an iron-stone district is passed over,
which is heavily timbered, and bears but scanty herbage.
This description of country continues to within a couple of
miles of the river, when the land changes to a red loam.
The distance between the Vasse and the part of the river
nearest it may be about twenty miles. The banks of the
Blackwood are mostly covered with a dense forest ; the soil
is occasionally a good sandy loam, but generally of a lighter
and inferior quality. There is much beautiful and romantic
scenery in the neiglibourhood of Augusta. The land even
on the shore here is rich; but so thickly wooded, as to render
its clearing very expensive, and discouraging to the settlers.
Fine crops of wheat, barley, Indian corn, oats, and potatoes,
f2

68
are raised here. Augusta is peculiarly adapted for a whale-
fishing establishment, as the whales frequent this part of
the coast in great numbers ; the beach also is well suited
for cutting them up, and the bay sheltered from the prevail
ing winds in winter. The fur seal also abounds. Near
Augusta there is a fine stream of fresh water, sufficient
to turn a mill, and constant all the year round, which is
rarely the case with the streams in that country. There
are sorae enterprising settlers located here, especially Cap
tain Molloy, on half-pay of the Rifle brigade ; in which
distinguished corps he served in the Peninsula, and at
Waterloo, where he was severely wounded. This gentle
man has a fine and productive garden, in which he takes
great interest. He has been Government Resident at
Augusta since the formation of the settlement. — There is
likewise a Mr. Turner, who, after many years of successful
occupation in London as a builder, has become an energetic
settler here ; also Messrs. Kellum, and others. About a
dozen miles up the Blackwood are located a respectable and
amiable family of the name of Bussell, consisting of a
lady, the widow of a clergyman, and five sons and three
daughters grown up. The eldest of the sons is a graduate
of Oxford, and an accoraplished scholar. These gentle
men do not neglect their literary pursuits, while they find
time to attend to all the various occupations required from
settlers. Several miles above where this family is situated,
are the Messrs. Chapman. The population of this district,
including a small detachment of military, is about a hun
dred souls. At this station, the settlers have had the happi
ness of living in almost uninterrupted friendship with the
natives : some of the forraer have extensive grants at the
Vasse (where there is an estuary with a river running into
it), and are said to be on the point of removing thither,
on account of its being much more eligible than the banks

69
of the Blackwood, for farming operations ; the Messrs.
Bussell are reported to have already partially located them
selves there.
A lady who is a relative of a family residing at Augusta,
feeling the great disadvantage which that sequestered settle
ment labours under, for want of a provision for public wor
ship, has set on foot a subscription, limited to a very small
sum, for the erection of a church and parsonage, which, it is
hoped, will meet with encouragement. The plan will be
found in the Appendix.*

Between Augusta and King George's Sound no inter
course has yet been opened by land. The distance by sea is
about 180 miles. This latter settlement had been occupied
some years by the Sydney Governraent as a convict station ;
but was subsequently handed over to the Western Austra
lian Government, and the convicts were withdrawn. The
great attraction of King George's Sound is its splendid har
bour ; it is also well situated for a whale and seal fishery
station, both which kinds of fish abound on this coast.
Agriculture here has hitherto made but little progress.
The land immediately adjoining the Sound is, in general,
light and sandy, and, with the exception of a few patches,
not at all calculated for the production of wheat. Settlers,
therefore, who wish to possess arable farms, must go at
least twenty-five miles into the country ; and, as there is
no wat^r-communication with the interior of any descrip
tion, no person should proceed thither at present, with
a view to agricultural pursuits, who does not possess
a sufficient stock of working bullocks or horses. Allusion
has already been made to the circumstance that the land
in the interior of King George's Sound is considered
eqi**} to that of the York district; and so favourable an
* See Appendix, No. 6.

70
opinion does Sir James Stirling entertain of this south
east part of the colony, that he has chosen almost all
his large grant there. Sir Richard Spencer, a Captain
in the navy, who has been Government Resident at King
George's Sound for nearly two years, is a very active and
enterprising colonist. He and several members of his large
family have commenced, with considerable means, in agricul
ture and sheep-farming ; and, some of them, with an inten
tion, it is said, of combining therewith commercial pursuits.
Mr. Cheyne is an old and highly respectable settler here, and
has been joined frora tirae to time by several of his relatives^
who went out on his report. His views are understood to
be chiefly commercial. It is a circumstance in favour of
this part of the settlement, that uninterrupted amity with
the natives has been maintained since it was transferred to
the Western Australian Government. Recent letters from
settlers among the latest arrivals there, complain of the high
price of provisions and the failure of their crops of vege
tables ; but the accounts of some of the old-established
settlers continue favourable.
Whatever difficulties this part of the colony may have
hitherto presented, the writer ventures his opinion with
some reluctance, that all has not been done by the settlers,
with perhaps two or three exceptions, that might have
been expected. Whether this has been occasioned chiefly
by their limited means and the paucity of their nurabers,
or by a want of union and co-operation, in order to bring
their actual strength and resources to bear upon particular
points, and thus to avail themselves of the peculiar advan
tages which that station, even now, holds out, he will not
venture, at this distance, to determine ; but he cannot but
fear there is much truth in the view which the Editor of
the Western Australian Journal takes of this subject. The
following extract is from an article in that paper, insSlrted
in November last.

71
" By the E^lenj Government schooner, we have intelligence from
King George's Sound to the end of October, and, we lament to say,
not altogether of a favourable nature, the settlers there remaining in
a state of torpor, awaiting the enlivening influence of assistance from
Government to open roads into the interior of the country, where
they can find soil and pasturage adapted for agricultural purposes.
That the settlers may reasonably require this assistance to a limited
extent we are ready to admit, and have little doubt the subject has
been under his Excellency the Governor's consideration ; but we
would caution the settlers at the Sound against embarking too gene
rally in agricultural pursuits, on a spot where their capital can be
applied to much greater advantage to themselves and the community,
in the fisheries or sealing. If strangers can make it answer their pur
pose to come to their harbours, and within a short distance of their
doors, for these commodities, surely a little activity and enterprize,
coupled with the means which we know the inhabitants possess, would
soon place them in a state of positive independence, beyond any thing
they can anticipate to realize after numerous years of toil and anxiety
in the pursuits of agriculture. Some, from choice, their previous
habits of life influencing their determination, will direct their atten
tion to these pursuits, and they, from experience, may succeed ; but
the mere amateur agriculturist must inevitably fail. If wealth is re
quired, or if it be the patriotic object of advancing the settlement
(some having denied that they are in search of riches, but merely
social ease and the ordinary enjoyments of life), the end can be most
speedily attained by establishing a Whaling Company ; to which enter
prize, we are persuaded, increased activity would be given, by the
ready co-operation of some of our monied neighbours."
In the same number of that Journal appears a petition
addressed to the Home Government, and signed by six
teen settlers at King George's Sound, soliciting to have it
made a convict station. This petition fully admits that
the colony was originally founded on the principle of free
.abour ; and that the general opinion of the settlers formerly
was, that the presence of convicts would be objectionable.
It acknowledges, that the settlement " possesses equal, if
not superior advantages to either of the sister colonies of

72
New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land ; " but pleads
for convicts on the ground of the difficulties they have to
encounter in opening proper lines of communication.*
These few individuals, about half of whom appear to be
among the recent arrivals, wish to get out of their tempo
rary difficulties, by the adoption of a measure which cannot
be too strongly deprecated. Once introduced to King
George's Sound, and the convicts would soon find their
way, as bush-rangers, over the whole of the colony. Recent
accounts state, that a party of settlers, attended by a Go
vernment Surveyor, had visited the Hotham, a river 100
miles south of the Swan. They are represented as having
returned highly pleased with the country, more especially
with that on the banks of the river. Mr. Tanner, it is added,
had made arrangements to have his grant there located im
mediately. With a view of marking out a line of road
through the interior, the Surveyor-General was to proceed,
* It is curious to observe in connexionwith the petition, that the " Sydney
Herald " was, almost at the very same time, calling out for the withdrawal
of convicts from that settlement, in consequence of the " rapid increase of
crirae." " It must now be obvious to the colonists," says this journal,
" that if we place the convict system in one scale, and a free population in
the other, the one is an abominable system of misrule and gross depravity,
and the other is the only system by which this country (New South Wales)
can gain a standing among the British colonies." The writer concludes in
these words, " Free labour will flourish in this country, as it has done in
every free colony under the British cro^^'n.''
The following passage is also extracted from an article in the same journal,
written on occasion of the recent murder of Dr. Wardell: — " In no coun
try is life so insecure as in this : the convict servants being, in numerous
instances, the first to destroy it. Let us look back and witness the scenes of
atrocious murders that have been perpetrated under such circumstances. We
see the murder of Mr. Clements; of Mr. M'Intyre, by his convict servant;
of Captain Payne; of Mr. Campbell, at his own door; of Captain Waldron,
by his female convicts ; of Captain Logan, through the instrumentality of
blacks, incited by runaway convicts ; and many other individuals of a more
lowly rank in life. Each instance of the kind proves that the convict system,
with its attendant satellite the convict government, is bad, and raust be
speedily remedied."

73
after some interval, to that neighbourhood, and from thence
to King George's Sound. The Governor himself had just
embarked for that port ; and, as the opening of the inland
coraraunication is a subject he has long contemplated, its
accomplishment may shortly be expected. The country the
road will penetrate is reported to be abundantly supplied
with water, and places suitable for good stock stations. It
would appear from Captain Bannister's statement, that a
great deal of the country is open, where it would require
but little labour for the formation of a road.
When once this line of communication, however imper-
.ectly, is opened. King George's Sound will becorae a sta
tion of great importance, it being but ten days sail from Van
Diemen's Land. It will, consequently, afford great facilities
for the introduction of stock from that colony and Sydney,
without exposure to the risk and loss that are often encoun
tered in doubling Cape Leeuwin.
In the mean tirae, the monstrous project of making King
George's Sound a penal settlement, is not likely to gain many
adherents in the colony. The following passages from Arch
bishop Whately's First Letter to Earl Grey are presented
to the reader, as calculated for ever to set that question at
rest. After pointing out the results of the errors Great
Britain has committed in her old colonies, and remarking
that our new colonies are not yet out of our forming hands,
the writer thus proceeds : — " There is one, especially, in the
" constitution of which we are bound to retrace, if possible,
" all our steps, — bound on every principle of expediency
" and national honour ; nay, on a principle (if such prin-
" ciple there be) of national conscience. It will be readily
" understood that this one is the convict colony in New
" South Wales, — a colony founded and maintained on prin-
" ciples which, if acted on by an individual in private life,
" would expose him to the charge either of insanity or of

74
" shameless profligacy. Imagine the case of a household
" most carefully made up of picked specimens from all the
" idle, mischievous, and notoriously bad characters in the
" country ! Surely the man who should be mad or wicked
" enough to bring together this monstrous family, and to
** keep up its numbers and character by continual fresh
" supplies, would be scouted from the society he so out-
" raged — would be denounced as the author of a diabolical
" nuisance to his neighbours and his country, would be pro-
" claimed infamous for setting at nought all morality and
" decency. What is it better, that, instead of a household,
" it is a whole people we have so brought together, and
" are so keeping up ? — that it is the wide society of the
" whole world, and not of a single country, against which
" the nuisance is committed ? " After explaining his views
as to the remedies to be applied, the writer adds — " But
" these measures, if carried into effect at all, must be taken
" in hand soon. Time — no distant time, perhaps — may
" place this ' foul disnatured' progeny of ours out of
" our power for good or for harra. Let us count the years
" that have passed since we first scattered emigrants along
" the coast of America. It is but as yesterday — and look
" at the gigantic people that has arisen. Thank Heaven !
" that in morals and in civilization they are at this day what
" they are. But can we look forward without a shudder at
" the appalling spectacle which a few generations hence
" may be doomed to witness in Australia ? Pass by as
" many years to come as it has taken the United States of
" America to attain to their present maturity, and here will
" be another new world with another new people, stretch-
" ing out its population unchecked ; rapid in its increase
" of wealth, and art, and power ; taking its place in the
" congress of the mightiest nations ; rivalling, perhaps
" riding them ; and then think what stuff this people

75
" will have been made of; and who it is that posterity
" will then curse for bringing this mildew on the social in-
" tercourse of the world ; who it is that will be answerable
" for the injury done by it to human virtue and human hap-
" piness at a tribunal more distant, but more awful even
" than posterity."*
How our transportation system appears in the eyes of
Europe may be judged of, by the following extract frora
" Remarks of the French Commissioners on the American
System of Secondary Punishments : "
" Society in Australia is divided into different classes,
" as distinct and inimical to each other as the different
" classes of the middle age. The criminal is exposed to
" the contempt of him who has obtained his liberty ; he,
" to the outrage of his own son, born free ; and all, to the
" pride of the colonist whose origin is without blemish.
" They resemble four hostile nations meeting on the same
" soil. We may judge of the feelings which animate these
" different members of the same people, by the following
" extract from the Report of Mr. Bigges : — ' As long as
" these sentiments of jealousy and enmity subsist,' says he,
" ' the introduction of trial by jury into the colony must not
" be thought of. In the actual state of things, a jury com-
'* posed of forraer criminals cannot fail to combine against
" an accused person belonging to the class of free colonists ;
" in the same manner, juries chosen from among free colo-
" nists, will always think they show the purity of their own
" class in condemning an old convict against whom a second
" accusation should be directed.' "t
* Archbishop Whately's Thoughts on Secondary Piinishment, being a
Letter addressed to Earl Grey, pp. 202, 3, 4.
t Archbishop Whately's Second Letter to Earl Grey, p. 165.

CHAPTER V.

General State of Society— Indentured Servants — Aborigines— Native Insti
tution — Sagacity of two Natives — Intercourse among the Agriculturists
— Female Society— Settlers &c. in the Towns — Free Institutions — Trial
by Jury.

Having now conducted the reader to the several stations
in the colony, with the view of enabling him to form some
idea of the state and progress of the settlement, it remains
to complete this part of the subject by glancing at the gene
ral state of society. On this topic considerable light is
thrown by a little volume made up of passages extracted
from letters and journals * transraitted to his friends at home
by Mr. Moore, the Advocate-General. Originally intended
solely for the perusal of a private circle, and therefore
thrown off in evident haste, and without the slightest view
to publication, and often only recording the fleeting rumour
of the day, it is to be regretted that these documents were
not submitted to his pruning hand. Some inconvenience
has arisen from this ; and not the least is, that some of the
acts of the colonial government have gone forth to the pub
lic with, though no doubt most unintentionally, a degree of
* Extracts of the Letters and Journals of George Fletcher Moore, Esq^
&c. &c., edited by Mr. Martin Doyle. Orr and Smith, Amen Corner.

77
false colouring ; and this communicated by a gentleman
described as filling at the time a judicial situation. But it
is to be borne in mind, that Mr. Moore was then a judge in
the Civil Court only, and had not the slightest connexion
with the judicial inquiries and proceedings which terminated
in the acts alluded to.*

As in this work there are frequent complaints of inden
tured servants, a few words respecting them may here be
called for. The character of this class of persons is about
the average of that of persons in similar occupations in
England, except so far as it is modified by the new circum
stances in which they are placed, of which they very natu
rally avail themselves. Feeling their own importance to
their employer's comfort and success, and that he cannot
easily dispense with them, or in raost instances readily sup
ply their places, they are apt to presume on this knowledge,
and thus, in some instances, become an occasion of con
siderable annoyance to their masters. Too much pains can
not be taken to draw thera off from the use of spirits, to
which they have already become greatly accustoraed, from
the absence of malt liquors in the colony. As brewing
succeeds well, and the hop has begun to be planted, it is
hoped that the evil will receive a timely check. The
* Though not at all of the spirit, yet certainly of the heedlessness, with
which Col. Napier has commented upon one especiaUy of these acts, the
writer feels he has occasion to complain. The following passage occurs in
page 129 of the Colonel's last work, when alluding to the execution of Midge-
goroo. " Now, if this man had committed any crime, which may perhaps
have been the case, though it does not so appear by Mr. Moore's account, &c.
&c. &c." Will the reader believe that the Colonel had himself just recorded,
in the next preceding page of his work, the following extract from Mr.
Moore? — " May 22nd. Midgegoroo, after Iiaving been fully identified as a prin
cipal actor in three murders ai least, has been shot at the jail door by a party
of the military." Incredible as it may appear, such is actually the inconsist
ency into which mere heedlessness has betrayed Colonel Napier.

• /

78

additional duties that have been lately imposed on spirits
may also contribute to this desirable result.

In taking a general view of the state of society, it will
be requisite to make some further allusion to the natives.
The writer, indeed, has a particular inducement to revert to
them, having been favoured with a sight of an additional file
of the Perth Gazette, which has reached the Colonial Office,
since the early sheets of this pamphlet went to press. It
has been already noticed as a leading circumstance affect
ing the state and progress of society in this settlement, that
the aborigines are so inconsiderable in point of numbers.
This will greatly facilitate the huraane and enlightened
policy that the Governor is adopting ; and which, if suc
cessful (and the writer confesses that he is inclined to be
sanguine on this head), will not only bring these tribes
within the pale of civilization, but speedily render them
useful and valuable members of a British community,
sheltering them under its protection, and enabling them to
participate largely in the general prosperity of the colony.
The last arrivals state that the Governor has formed an
institution at Mount Eliza, near Perth, for the immediate
purpose of civilizing the natives in that district. Mr. Arm
strong, a settler who has acquired a considerable knowledge
of their language, and has associated much with them in
their primitive haunts, has been judiciously selected to act
as interpreter and superintendent. A main object proposed
is to teach and encourage the natives to acquire the means
of regular subsistence, whether by working for individual
settlers, or by following up, and improving in, the various
arts to which they are already accustomed. In fishing, for
instance, a pursuit in which they combine great ignorance
with much dexterity, they are to be assisted by boats.

79
nets, &c. To hunting also, and the rest of their useful
occupations, they will be stimulated ; as it will be a part of
the duty of the Superintendent to give them increased faci
lities for the disposal of any surplus provisions they may be
able to obtain. Grounds also are to be set apart for them,
to which they are to have free ingress and egress, and
no restraint or coercion will be attempted ; while additional
protection will be secured to them, and medical aid in
sickness. They will thus, it is hoped, be gradually trained
to make a wise provision for the future. The rules of the
Institution, which seem to be admirably adapted to the pur
pose, will be found detailed in the Appendix.*
If this friendly and paternal system should answer the
design proposed, it will, no doubt, be followed up by sirailar
institutions throughout the colony, and thus many important
undertakings of a public nature may ultimately be achieved
with benefit to all parties. The plan, at all events, does
great credit to the benevolence and wisdora of the Governor,
and well deserves to be crowned with success.
A circurastance is related in one of the nurabers of the
Perth Gazette just arrived, so highly creditable to two of
the Swan River natives, that no apology can be necessary
for inserting it in the Appendix, f Many extraordinary
cases have been related of the successful tracking of foot-,
steps by savages through a wild and uncultivated country ;
but this recent instance exceeds anything of the kind
which the writer remembers to have heard or read of.
The Hottentot corps of riflemen, who are often employed at
the Cape, in tracking the Caffres that have plundered cattle
&c. from the settlers on the frontier, exhibit wonderful saga
city in this way. They will discover the track or qmr, as it
is called, of a man by marks which would escape the notice
of the most observant European. Even the recent turning
* See Appendix, No. 7. t See Appendix, No. 8.

80
of a pebble, or the fracture of a spray, affords them a clue
for continuing their pursuit. This the writer had the oppor
tunity of knowing, when serving on the Caffrarian frontier.
But however surprising it then appeared to be, the present
instance seems to evince equal, and indeed superior sagacity,
on the part of the Swan River natives, inasmuch as the track
of a child must be more difficult to discover, than that of a
bullock or a man.
The gentleman whose name is mentioned on that occasion
as Superintendent of Police, is the son of General Sir Amos
Norcott, and is singularly well suited for his office, which
brings him in continual contact with the aborigines. He
is possessed of energy and activity, and has acquired a con
siderable knowledge of their manners, habits, and language.
Mr. Norcott has a great turn for iraitation, and his popularity
with the natives raay be in part ascribed to his possession of a
talent so conspicuous in theraselves, as well as to his uniform
kindness. Such is their attachraent to him, that they are
in the habit of shouting out his name on seeing him at a
distance.

The state of society among the agriculturists themselves
is, in general, of the most friendly description. A kind
and cordial feeling is that which for the most part prevails,
and a readiness to do good offices for each other. Much
social intercourse is kept up, and the laborious occupations
of farming are corabined with a refinement of manners and
taste, which has surprised and delighted many who have
visited the colony. To the hospitality which is so generally
practised, the writer has already borne testimony when
treating of the Swan River District.
For proof that these statements are not overcharged, the
writer may confidently appeal to a pamphlet on the colony.

81
written by Lieut. Col. Hanson, Quarter-master-General of
the Madras army, and also to the Journals and Letters of
Mr. Moore, to which reference has already been made. At the
dinners of the Agricultural Society, which occur four times
a year, it is usual for a large party of gentlemen to dine
together. The last occasion is thus described in the " Western
Australian Journal" of November 8, 1834: —
The Quarterly Meeting of the Members of the Agricultural Society
took place yesterday at Guildford.
His Excellency Sir James Stirling, accompanied by Captain Black
wood of the " Hyacinth," Mr. Taylor of King George's Sound, and
several other gentlemen, after visiting, in the course of the day, the
farms in the neighbourhood of Guildford, and inspecting the stock
brought to the cattle-show, at 4 o'clock joined the members of the
Society, at the Cleikum Inn, where an excellent dinner was provided,
and forty-eight persons sat down to partake of it.

To the ladies generally, of the settlement, the meed of
praise is due. Some of them are highly educated as well
as most amiable women. They have not neglected to culti
vate and maintain, as opportunity has occurred, those ele
gancies and accomplishments in which they have excelled ;
and music, especially, forms a most pleasing part of the
evening recreations of several families. The good sense and
intelligence of the sex have been strikingly displayed in the
readiness with which they have borne many privations, and
encountered the difficulties incident to a new colony. A
remarkable example of heroism, for such it really raay be
called, occurred some time since, in the instance of an
estimable old lady, the mother of two gentlemen of the
name of Leake, respectable merchants at Fremantle. This
lady was induced by her attachment to her sons, already
settled there, and to a grand- daughter who was coming out,
G

82
to buffet the waves at seventy years of age; and is now
actively superintending the domestic arrangements of their
hospitable dwelling. The above-named merchants, as also
the Messrs. Samson (gentlemen highly esteemed), have
establishments both there and at Perth.
The town of Perth is particularly favoured in regard to
its social circle, and much friendly intercourse is kept up.
To Lady Stirling, the very amiable wife of the Governor,
the colonists are greatly indebted. The families of the civil
officers of government, and those of some other individuals,
contribute to make this a very agreeable place of residence.
" The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal," is
published here under the auspices of the Government, and
is ably edited by Mr, Macfaull, the proprietor. This is a
very useful channel of communication, and circulates much
valuable information among the settlers. It merits, as well
by the style and temper in which it is written, as by the
manner in which the mechanical part is conducted, to take
a high rank among our colonial journals.
The town of Guildford may also be named as furnishing
excellent society. The families of Messrs. Tanner, Whit
field, Walcot, Ridley, Boyd, and Captain Mears (several
of them blessed with amiable and accomplished daughters),
add greatly to the cheerfulness of this neighbourhood. A
musical treat raay often be had here, and also at Perth and
Freraantle. At a place called the Peninsula, between Perth and Guild
ford, there are located the families of the two Messrs. Hardy,
Mr. Clarkson, and Mr. Drummond, the eminent botanist.
• Higher up the Swan River, there are those of Messrs. Brock
man, Shaw, and Bull. Besides these, there are several
bachelors located here and there, some of whom will pro
bably, when they get thoroughly settled down, be foUowing
the excellent example of Mr. Bull, already quoted. Similar

83
notice might be taken of the friendly intercourse, and plea
sant society to be met with, at the Canning, York, the Mur
ray, Augusta, and King George's Sound.

The Colony is highly privileged in its legal institutions,
which afford all the advantages of English law, without
the heavy expense attending it here at home. The only
criminal court in the settleraent is the Quarter Sessions, the
judges of which are unpaid magistrates, with the exception
of their chairman, who also presides over the Civil Court,
with the title of Commissioner ; and which office, like that
of judge in England, is held during good behaviour. In
the Criminal Court the trial is always by jury, which is
likewise the case in the Civil Court, whenever either of the
parties chooses to incur the expense. The pleadings are
oral, and all persons are permitted to practise as advo
cates. The fees are very moderate. The present commis
sioner is Mr. Mackie, before alluded to, whose first appoint
ment was that of Advocate- General, or Counsel to the
Government ; which situation he held, together with that of
Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, while Mr. Moore pre
sided in the Civil Court ; to which, on its formation, he
had been nominated by the Local Government. On these
appointments, however, being laid before his Majesty's
Government, it was decided that the same functionary
should preside in both courts ; and Mr. Mackie, as the
senior law-officer, was made the sole Colonial Judge ; the
office of Advocate- General being offered to Mr. Moore, and
accepted by that gentleman. The legal knowledge, profes
sional talent, and equable temper, which Mr. Moore evinced
g2

84
during the two years and upwards he presided in the Civil
Court, gave the utmost satisfaction to the colonists, as well
as to the Governor.*
Into these particulars respecting the free institutions of
the colony the writer has entered thus somewhat minutely,
as they cannot fail to have a material influence upon the
state of society, and greatly contribute to permanent pros
perity. How these advantages are appreciated in the neigh
bouring penal settlements, the following extract from a letter
in " The Tasmanian," a Van Dieraen's Land journal of re
cent date, demonstrates : —
" The 'penal settlement' character of these colonies is a millstone
round their necks, which effectually prevents their obtaining their
rights of free institutions. Look at Swan River. Depend upon it
that, poor as that colony is, her composition being free from penal
settlementship, she commands infinitely greater attention in Britain,
than does either this, or the great sister colony, with all its wealth.
Thus it is that, while we are here subjected to the report of the Crown
lawyers, whether we shall possess even the ordinary right of Trial by
Jury, the colonists of the Swan River are in full enjoyment of every
privilege of Englishmen." * See Appendix, No. 9.

CHAPTER VI.

Latest Accounts — Agricultural Society's Report — Increase of Stock — Supeiior
Breeds — Sheep Farming — Wool — Wheat — Kaifre Corn — Oat-Hay —
Hops — Fruits — Vegetables — Timber-Trees, &c. — Bees— Flour-Mills —
Brewing — Revenue, &c. &c. &c.

Since the preceding sheets were sent to press. Colonial
journals down to the 24th of January have come to hand.
They enable the writer to give the last Report of the
Western Australian Agricultural Society ; a docuraent con
taining the most gratifying accounts of the progress of the
settlement — accounts exceeding the expectations of the
writer. From what he knows of the gentlemen who have
affixed their names to the Report, and who have been
already referred to, as among the leading agriculturists in
the colony, he has entire confidence in the accuracy of the
information it conveys ; while he feels himself peculiarly
fortunate in being able thus unexpectedly to appeal to such
a body of evidence in proof of the general correctness of his
own previous statements.

86

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

To His Excellency Sir James Stirling, Governor, 8<c. &c.. Patron of the
Agricultural Society of H^estern A ustralia.
SIR, — In laying before your Excellency our third Agricultural
Report for the colony, we cannot but remark, that though the total
amount of live stock in the colony may appear small, and though a
great many farmers have as yet been able to procure but a very
limited supply — yet, when we reflect, that only the fifth year of our
existence as a community has passed, and look at the same period of
any other colony on record, it will be found that we stand very far
before them in this respect, as well as in the extent of land in cultiva
tion. And when we look at the state of importance to which other
colonies have arrived (Sydney, for instance, almost even within our
own knowledge and experience), we think we have reason to congra
tulate ourselves.
From our own observations, we can state that within the last twelve
months, the increase of stock has been very considerable, the holders
having acted more judiciously of late, in withholding the breeding
stock from the butcher, however high the price : whereas formerly,
they thought merely of the present, by killing ewes &c., whenever
the condition of the animal or great demand for meat gave present
profit. We believe the number of head of live stock has never before been
taken, to enable us to state with precision what the increase has been
within any given time ; but, by as careful a raeans £is could be adopted,
we find the present numbers, and the quantity of land in cultivation,
to be as follows : —
Horses, 84 ; mares, 78 ; cows, 307 ; working cattle, 96 ; bulls and
steers, 97 ; sheep, 3545 ; goats, 492 ; pigs, 374.
Number of acres in wheat, 564; barley, 100; oats, 116; Kaffre
corn and maize, 29; potatoes, 15; other crops, 94; fallow, 118;
vines half an acre.

87
Amongst the horses we must remark, that we have your owh
thorough-bred stock, namely. Grey Leg and Chateau Margaux, and
four mares, and your horse Napoleon, the two cart-horses of Mr.
Bull and Mr. J. W. Hardy, and Mr. Peel's Punch. Of cart-mares
we have Mr. Brockman's two, Mr. Bull's one, Mr. Lennard's two,
Mr. Lewis's two, Mr. Phillips's one. Major Nairne's two ; also Mr.
Smith's fine half-bred mare.
Of cows and bulls we possess a good many of the fine English
breeds — Devon short-horned, Yorkshire, Durham, Alderney, Ayr
shire, &c.
Of sheep, we have the fine ewes and rams imported from Saxony,
by Mr. M'Dermott, at a great expense, with their descendants ; and
the pure Merinos from the flocks of the late Mr. Joshua Trimmer and
others. It is gratifying to know, that the good breeds of the stock
above-mentioned bear such a proportion to the inferior, that have been,
and may be, imported from the neighbouring colonies, that we have
within ourselves the foundation for an unlimited number of first-rate
horses, cattle, and sheep.
Of wool, the small quantity hitherto exported has been of course of
a very mixed description, and much of it very dirty and badly packed,
from obvious causes. It appears not to have fetched in the London
market more than 2s. 2rf. per lb. The clip of the present season may
be rated at about 5884 lbs., and we are happy to say that a large pro
portion of it is fine, and that much more pains have been taken with
it than formerly.
Since making our last Report, explorations that have been made by
individuals have not only confirmed our opinions of the extent of the
pastoral districts in the interior, but have added some not before
known. Added to which, the increased experience of those settlers
on the only located district of this description, more than confirms
the opinions formerly entertained of it for the breeding of fine-woolled
sheep. On this subject, Mr. Bland, one of the largest flockmasters
in the colony, says, " With regard to the land in this district, my
opinion is, that it is as healthy a sheep-run as can be found; we have
resided here with a flock of sheep for nearly three years, and have
not had any disease amongst them, excepting the foot-rot, which has
been brought up from the Swan. Both sheep and lambs require

88
clipping early in the spring, to prevent a grass-seed with a barbed
point from working into the skin. We find the grass certainly in
crease where it has been most fed off. As to the comparative expense
of keeping a flock here, and on the Swan, I am scarcely able to say,
not having kept one at the latter place myself; but two men can keep
from 700 to 1000, with an extra hand in lambing time, and two or
three at clipping time. I think the country, on the average, will
keep about one sheep to three acres." But as the feed increases by
feeding, a larger proportion may be kept.
We are sorry to say, that the disease mentioned in our last report
as having proved so serious a drawback to keeping flocks on the
Swan, has not yielded so entirely as we had hoped it was doing to the
medicines employed ; nor, with all the care ofthe owner and shepherd,
has it been kept off so long as the sheep have remained in those dis
tricts of the Swan in which it had before prevailed. But this has
hastened the flockmasters here in sending them to the Avon, to which
river three individuals have lately removed their sheep, and where
there are now no less than eight flocks. It is the intention of more
of the principal settlers to send their stock over the hills, when the
Government shall have so far improved the road as to enable thein to
take over supplies, which, for the present, must be taken from their
farms on the Swan and Canning. It is very gratifying to be able to
state, that of some of the Merino lambs frora the Avon, only six
months old, killed at Perth, the carcasses have weighed upwards of
ten pounds a quarter, and this after having been driven over in two
days. On the number of acres in wheat showing so small an increase on
that of last year, we would remark, that the great scarcity of seed
prevented more being got in ; had it not been for this cause, we can
venture to say, that it would have been very much greater. Nearlv
the whole of the land now fallow would have been in wheat, besides
a great deal of new land, had seed been procurable.
Kaffre-corn appears to be almost entirely superseding maize, the
former being found not only productive, but answering well on infe
rior soils ; whereas the latter does not succeed well in this coantry
without a great deal of manure, except in soils that are moist in
summer.

89
During the present season oat-hay has been made, for the first
time, in the colony, and with complete success ; the crop being four
or five times as great as that on the natural pastures.
From the great increase in the number of working bullocks within
the last year or two, we may reasonably calculate on a very consider
able increase in the extent of land under cultivation next year, if the
periodical scarcity which has hitherto usually visited us be averted,
so that we be not obliged to use for food the wheat intended for seed.
We deem it right to make one observation on the wheat crop, to
prevent an erroneous opinion being formed as to its produce, — that
though the quantity sown is considerable, and is generally looking
well, there are many acres that are sown on inferior land without sufli-
cient tillage, or sown too late, that cannot be counted on.
Amongst the plants introduced since our last report, we notice one
of some importance, which is now established ; namely, the hop.
The white mulberry, of which there are a great number in the
colony, grows most luxuriantly.
We have now growing in the colony plants of nearly every kind of
European fruit-tree and shrub, all of which appear to thrive well, as
do such of the tropical fruits as have had a fair trial — as the date and
banana. Of figs and vines, the fruit appears to be as good as that grown in any
part of the world. Of the vine, one settler has half an acre planted.
Indeed this, and other fruit-trees and plants, are becoming very gene
rally cultivated throughout the settlement, especially the fig, vine, and
peach, which here grow to a certainty from cuttings.
The olive, although regular plantations have not been made, grows
remarkably fast, and there is one plant at Perth now in fruit.
Although garden vegetables cannot be grown in perfection during
every month in the year on dry soils, yet in moist ground every
description of vegetables can be grown at any season, and our supply
of them is certainly very superior, with common culture, to what can
be obtained in England, without artificial heat and the greatest care.
Of the various kinds of timber-trees and shrubs from Europe,
Africa, &c., that have been tried here, all appear to grow remarkably
well. Bees have been landed at King George's Sound since our last report.

90
We are happy to state, that four flour mills are now in operation,
and two others are now in course of erection ; also, that brewing is
becoming more general. And notwithstanding the scarcity of money
that continues to be felt, we have ascertained that upwards of two
thousand pounds are ready to be laid out in the purchase of sheep
(including some already sent for), to be sent to the fine pastures on
the Avon and the Hotham.
It has been ascertained that in upland, two, and in moist soils, three,
crops of potatoes can be produced in the year.
{Signed by)
Wm. Locke Brockman. Thoraas N. Yule.
E. P. Barrett Lennard. W. B. Andrews.
J. W. Hardy. Henry Bull.
Geo. Fletcher Moore. Richard G. Meares, late Captain
William Burges. 2«d Life Guards.
Michael Clarkson. William Tanner, Honorary Secretary.

A few observations are suggested by this Report. The
general reader's attention is first requested to what is there
said of the quality of the Live Stock already in the colony.
After enumerating the particular breeds of horses, cows,
and sheep, the Report adds, " It is gratifying to know
that the good breeds of the stock above mentioned bear such
a proportion to the inferior that have been, and may be, im
ported from the neighbouring colonies, that we have within
ourselves the foundation for an unlimited number of first-rate
horses, cattle, and sheep."
The great importance of this circumstance, as connected
with the future prosperity of the settlement, will be duly
appreciated by those who have visited the Cape.* The colo-
* See Appendix, No. 10.

91
nists there are possessed of large flocks and herds, but they
derive little profit from them, owing to the inferiority of the
breeds, the nominal value of cattle in the interior being some
where about IZ. and sheep 2s. a head, for the use ofthe butcher;
and mares being sold for 5^. The "Fatherland" breed of
cattle there is, however, a fine description of stock ; and
during the last twenty years sorae excellent horses have been
bred, frora the first-rate kinds introduced by Lord Charles
Somerset and others. The colonists also seem now alive to
the advantage of displacing their large-tailed sheep by Me
rinos ; but the foregoing reraarks are intended to apply to
the general description of stock to be met with on the farms.
In Van Diemen's Land, also, are large herds of cattle,
only of value for their carcass, and as wild as deer, paying
little more than the cost of catching and driving them to
market. The writer, some years ago, purchased, at a cheap
rate, as he then thought, two cows imported frora that
colony ; but, after being a short time on his farm, one took
to the woods, and was not seen afterwards ; and the other
strangled itself in an effort to break loose. The importance
of avoiding these errors, into which the other colonies of
Australia have fallen, at their commencement, will be appre
ciated by every practical farmer.

Another very important fact is confirmed by the preceding
Report, viz., the existence of extensive pastoral districts in the
interior. Alluding to one of these, Mr. Bland, a high au
thority on such a subject, is quoted as giving his opinion
that it is " as healthy a sheep-run as can be found."
It appears, from the W. A. Journal, that several cargoes
of sheep to the colony were expected, and on the point of
being conveyed thither. The paper of the 18th of December

92
last, states that Mr. S. G. Henty, a raerchant at Fremantle,
had freighted the "Adams" for 600 fine-woolled sheep, hav
ing previously made contracts with some of the settlers to de
liver them at that port at 35s. a head. A subsequent nuraber
says, " Mr. Sherwin, of Sydney, we hear, has written to his
" correspondent in this colony, intimating his resolution of
" visiting us in the 'Australian' freighted with sheep. This
" gentleman expects to be able to put on board about 1200.
" We may look for his arrival about March next."
In a previous paper it is mentioned that Mr. Taylor, the
master of the Helen, a vessel trading between Sydney and
Swan River, was expected to arrive there from the former
port with stock and sheep on his own account, having pur
chased a grant in the York district, where he intended to
place them.
Various accounts agree in stating that colonists in New
South Wales are seriously turning their attention to Western
Australia, and that some intend removing thither with their
flocks and herds. One cause of this has been already alluded
to, namely, the difficulty of finding pasture for their rapidly
increasing flocks.
The extracts given frora the Sydney Herald, when noticing
the petition from King George's Sound, and which were
inserted in the notes, will be fresh in the mind of the reader.
If room allowed, such extracts might be greatly multiplied.
Suffice it to say, that an increasing feeling of disgust is
exhibited at the consequences a penal settlement inflicts,
and that a perpetual dread exists of brutal outrages being
committed, which latter circumstance alone occasions great
uneasiness; but, operating along with the former, cannot
fail to cause raany to migrate ; especially whenever the
looked-for communication shall be opened between King
George's Sound and Swan River. In the mean time a pro
posal has been started in New South Wales so bold and diffi-

93
cult of accomplishment, and yet related so circuinstan^
tially, that however chimerical the writer must confess it
appears to hira to be, yet considering the channel through
which it is communicated, he feels called upon to give it
publicity in the note below. At all events, the suggestion
alone, the bare idea of so arduous a plan being in contem
plation, and the mention of so large a sum offered by the
people of Sydney for such an object, afford additional proofs
that a considerable revolution of opinion respecting Western
Australia has taken place there.*

It is satisfactory to learn frora the W. A. Journal, that
almost the whole of the crop of wheat is free from smut and
* The following is an extract from the Western Australia Journal, of the
27th of last December, and is taken from an article headed " Overland expe
dition from Sydney to Swan River." " A scheme, having for its object the
conveyance overland from Sydney to this colony, of sheep, horses, and cattle,
on a very extensive scale, has been set on foot in the neighbouring colonies
Dy Captain Bannister and Mr. Clint, both late residents in this colony, — and
our Government, we are informed, have been solicited to extend their aid and
countenance to the enterprize. No pecuniary aid is required ; but in consi
deration of the magnitude of the undertaking, and the capital risked in the
endeavours to accomplish this desirable object, a recompense is sought in a
grant, in fee siraple, of a certain (we believe raoderate) number of acres of
land, in proportion to the capital embarked, and the several persons engaged
in the expedition. The capital is rated at 10,000?., and the persons comprising
the expedition, it is estimated, will amount to about 24." Should this intel
ligence prove authentic, the author fuUy concurs in the inference drawn from
it by the Editor in the following paragraph : " The proposition, emanating
as it does frora Captain Bannister, who was the first to penetrate through our
distant wilds, affords an assurance, were further confirmation required, to our
neighbours and the iriends of the colony, that this country possesses advan
tages of a high order for the purposes to which this expedition is directed ;
and further establishes the faut of the absence of pasturage on the eastern
coast for their rapidly extending flocks. The flocks and herds of New South
Wales, it now appears, are driven as far as the Morumbidgee river for pas
turage, and are increasing beyond the capabilities of the country to support.
The sheep-owners, it is represented to us, are constantly and anxiously
looking for districts more advantageously situated."

94
drake. Taking the quantity of land cropped with grain last
year to have been as stated in the Report, it is probable that
it has not fallen much below a twelvemonth's consumption.
To guard, however, against the recurrence of a scarcity, the
Government will in future retain a corrective supply of flour
in the Comraissariat stores, which will be thrown open to the
public whenever the price rises beyond a maximum fixed upon.
As the want of seed alone has limited the aggregate of the har
vest to the amount of acres stated, and the Government has
begun to apply the above expedient, the expectation of the
Agricultural Society, that there will be " a very considerable
increase in the extent of land under cultivation next year, is
likely to be fulfilled." This cannot fail very materially to
bring down the price of bread in the colony. The price of
fresh meat also seeras likely to experience a great reduction.
The Colonial Journal computes that about 700 wethers will be
brought to market in the ensuing year, besides an increased
number of bullocks, pigs, poultry, &c. Add to this the
fresh importations and accumulating stock, and in the
following year " we may reasonably calculate," continues
that journal, " upon a very considerable fall in the prices."
Though an infant colony raust always be prepared for more
or less of fluctuation in the price of the necessaries of life,
yet the causes for uneasiness on that score, in a country
where soil and climate are propitious, may be expected
rapidly to diminish.
No apology can be necessary for introducing the following
extract from a letter, dated Fremantle, Jan. 29, 1835, and
addressed by Mr. James Stokes to Messrs. F. and C. E.
Mangles. It is peculiarly valuable, as being written by a
settler, who has just established hiraself in the colony as a
fellmonger and woolstapler, &c., and who states that he has
had nearly twelve years experience inthe wool trade. He fully
corroborates, as far as he goes, the preceding statements.

95
" Having been in this part of the world now seven raonths, includ
ing great part of the winter and also the suraraer, I am convinced of
the capabilities of the colony for the growth of fine wools, also as to
the superiority of the climate, soil, and grasses, &c., for the preven
tion of diseases and the general health of sheep. I have visited the
farms &c. on the Swan several tiraes, and was rauch pleased with the
progress made, as also with the growth of all sorts of fruit, vegetables,
corn, &c. I ara now just returned frora an excursion into the interior
of the country in the " York District," having been sixteen miles
beyond York with a young raan who has settled there as a sheep
farraer. I proceeded on four or five miles raore to the southward ; and
also, when I returned to York (to remain a few days, as per invitation,
to Messrs. Bland and Trimmer's), I made a tour to the northward: thus
travelling over an extent of near thirty railes of splendid country, well
watered, with an abundance of grass, and a very superior feed for
sheep, or that raay be ploughed without alraost any clearing, and very
properly described by sorae parties in forraer journals as having more
the appearance of a gentleman's park in England. I was highly gra
tified with the country. Messrs. Bland and Trimraer's flocks, and in
fact all the farmers' sheep here, I cannot but speak of in the highest
terms ; and Mr. Arthur Trimmer informs me, that it is a very rare
occurrence to lose a sheep, and they are particularly fortunate in the
lambing season.
All parties now having money to invest, are about doing so in sheep,
as they begin to see that wool will be the staple article of the country.
I think the settlers here may congratulate themselves when they look
back to Sydney in 1806. That settlement then, after being established
about fifteen years, exported " one " bag of wool, and this colony,
next shearing time, will have been established about six years and a
half, when 1 calculate, with imports of sheep, and their increase, there
will be from " thirty to forty" bags exported from here, all done by
individual enterprize and private capital, free labour, &c., without
having our " Society" contaminated by " Convicts."

Towards the expenditure of the civil service of the year
1834, amounting in all to 12,175/. 13s. 10|d., the sum of
6290/. 19s. 65d. was provided by parliamentary grant.

96
The remainder was met by the revenue derived from the
sale of Crown property in the colony, namely, 3580/. Is.
I l^d. ; and by the proceeds of the internal revenue, amount
ing to the sum of 2304/. 12s. 5d.
When it is considered that the first land was given in
September 1829, too late for growing crops till 1830, and
that only five harvests have been reaped ; and when — and it
is the only way to arrive at a just conclusion — " we look,"
to use the words of the Report, " at the same period of any
other colony on record," the settlers may justly be proud
of the position in which they stand. How premature and
rash have been the opinions to which some writers stand
committed! Where are the proofs of that "failure," of
which the author of the work entitled " England and
Araerica" speaks ? And what can be said of the stiU raore
extravagant statements introduced into a very recent work
from the pen of Colonel Napier, that the colony had ex
isted for TEN years ! and that the Governor had made a
I'equisition for 600 soldiers ! * It is much to be regretted that
the Colonel should have been so easily misled, and have taken
apparently so little trouble to be correctly inforraed on the
points to which he referred. The military force of the colony
has lately been completed to 150 men ; and the writer does
not believe that any further increase has been contemplated
or applied for bythe Local Government, though that amount
is certainly as small as is compatible with the wants of the
colony. * " I have heard, but cannot vouch for the truth of this assertion, that the
Governor of Swan River Settlement wants raore soldiers, and has applied for
his force to be increased to 600 men !" From a work, entitled " Coloniza
tion; particularly in Southern Australia:" &c. &c., by Colonel Charles
James Napier, C. B." p. xxvi. In a note in the succeeding page, the Colonel
quotes, on the Authority of the Hobart Town papers, the following passage : —
" ' The Swan River Settlement continues to be affected with a scarcity of pro
visions,' after being planted about ten years. Pray mark that, reader ! "

CHAPTER VII.

India — Colonization Company formed at Calcutta — Views of the Share
holders—Loss of the Mercury — Interest excited at Calcutta and Madras
— Rearing of Horses for the India Market — Remount of British
Cavalry at Madias, procured from Sydney— Position of Swan River —
Its superior Advantages for that trafiie.

Some slight reference has already been raade to India,
and to the favourable circumstances under which the voyage
to and fro, between that part of our dominions and Swan
River, may be perforraed. The following additional parti
culars will be interesting to those who have friends and
relations in the East Indies.
In 1833, a corapany was forraed at Calcutta for the pur
pose of trading with and settling in Western Australia.
Among those principally concerned in establishing the com
pany were, J. Pattle, Esq., of the Civil Service, and Colonel
Becher. In the same year the bark Mercury was dispatched
to King George's Sound on that undertaking, having on
board Captain C. Cowles, H. C. M., and J. Calder (late of
the firm of Mackintosh and Co.), W. Raynoe, G. Pattle,
S. Beadle, jun., Esqrs., Messrs. T. Nisbett, S. Austen, two
European officers, one carpenter, and seventy natives of
India. This unfortunate bark was never after heard of, and

98
being an old vessel, is supposed to have foundered at sea, as
H. M. S. Hyacinth, dispatched in the subsequent year in
search of her by Admiral Sir John Gore, could find no trace
of the wreck. The gentlemen on board were preceding others
interested in the adventure, in order to prepare the way, by
selecting the most eligible sites for their future operations.
Ten overseers, with five mechanics attached to each, and en
gaged for five years, were said to be on board, for the purpose
of erecting buildings on the respective allotments ofthe mem
bers of the company ; and while these improvements were
carrying on, the vessel was to return to India for the fami
lies of the shareholders. The colony was meant to be
the permanent residence of their farailies, but the gentle
men were to remain only during the summer raonths. It
appears that the company intended having two or three
trading vessels, to keep up a regular comraunication, and
also one for whaling during the season. Messrs. J. Pattle
and C. and G. Becher, in their petition to the Admiral for
search to be made for the Mercury, state, that she sailed in
October for Western Australia, " provided with an exten
sive establishment of men and means, for the purpose of
obtaining land, and ultimately effecting colonization at that
interesting settlement ; " and they go on to say that, as the
average passage from Calcutta to King George's Sound was
a month, and the Mercury had not reached the colony in
March 1834, they feared she had been wrecked on the
Keeling or Coco Islands. While the writer deeply sym
pathizes with the relatives and friends of the unfortunate
sufferers, he is happy to find that a strong attachment to
the colony, " England's youngest child," is still maintained
at Calcutta, and that Messrs. Pattle and Mangles, of the
Civil Service, Colonels Becher and Frith, and Captain
Lowes, were, according to the latest accounts, distinguished
for the deep interest they were taking in its welfare. A let-

99
ter of the 4th of November, from Mr. Mangles, mentions
that one of the greatest sufferers by the loss of the Mer
cury has since been most active in promoting schemes
having for their object the formation of another company,
and the keeping up of a constant communication with the
colony; " he desires," says Mr. M., "to get up a joint-
stock company, 100 shares of 1500 rupees each, and I
dare say it will fill. I will let you know hereafter how this
matter progresses. I hope to see regular packets for pas
sengers established." A letter from Calcutta, dated January
last, states that a passenger-ship for Swan River and Van
Diemen's Land was to sail early in that month ; so that the
proposed coramunication appears to have fairly coraraenced.
In Colonel Hanson, already alluded to, the colony pos
sesses, at Madras, a zealous and influential advocate. When
he visited Western Australia in 1831, the prejudice against it
in public opinion was at its height ; but he soon perceived
that this prejudice had no foundation, and that, with refer
ence to India, the colony was likely to prove an object of
very peculiar interest. It had long been a desideratum with
the officers of the various branches of the East India Com
pany's Service to find a country, where, on retiring, they
might have a cliraate that would renovate their impaired
constitutions, and yet prove congenial to their acquired feel
ings, so long habituated to the intense heat of a tropical sun.
In these particulars, speaking generally, the climate of Eng
land does not suit them. If it restores the constitutions of
some, with many it does not agree, from the humidity of
the atmosphere ; while the cold and long-continued rains
are agreeable to few, if any of them. The Colonel found
that Western Australia answered the desired description.
He came to it an invalid, and left it in rude health ; while
its climate, of which he had trial in the hottest season, was
delightful to his feelings. But besides a healthy and plea-
H 2

100
sant climate, the servants of the Corapany are anxious to
enjoy society resembling that which they have left behind
them, or look forward to mix with, in England. On this
head. Colonel Hanson, in his pamphlet, bears a raost favour
able testiraony to the colony, where he found various fami
lies, including near relations of both sexes of his friends at
Madras and in England, no way their inferiors in refinement
of taste and suavity of manners. Recent accounts from
Madras state that the Colonel had left that Presidency for
King George's Sound, where he has a small grant, intending
to reside there for a couple of years while on leave of ab
sence. The Calcutta Corapany, in selecting Western Australia as
their place of abode or retirement, appear also to have had
in view its eligibility as a place of residence for their fami
lies when in ill health, or for the education of the children
of such members as continued to fill situations in India.
Perhaps the raost painful circumstance connected with the
India Service is the separation of families. How many
ladies are obliged to tear themselves from their husbands,
either on account of their own ill health, or that of their
children, on whose tender frames the deleterious climate
soon begins to operate 1 These separations are often pro
longed for years, and the same causes have obliged many
a delicate feraale to make the long voyage a second time
home and to India without any relation to protect her.
Another frequent cause of separation is the anxiety to obtain
for their children a suitable education. In Dr. Milligan's
Report on the climate* the following passage occurs: —
" The favourable opinion I have already expressed of the
influence of this climate on European constitutions, and of
the place as a residence for invalids from India, is strength
ened by a further experience of two years." The Doctor
" Appendix, No. 3.

101
goes on to show that the climate is peculiarly suited to the
female sex, and " children," he adds, " thrive remarkably
well." With reference to education, the writer has heard of one
family, including several females, who proceeded last year
to the colony, with the view of devoting themselves to that
object ; and one or two estimable persons were so occupied
when he left it.
The connexion of the colony with India will also be
greatly promoted by a traffic in horses, when the colonists
have had time to raise them in sufficient nurabers to make
the exportation of them an object. The native horses of
India are not considered powerful enough for the mounting
of our dragoons. When at the Mauritius in November
1833, the writer met Captain Collins of H. M. 13th Light
Dragoons, and learned from him that he was proceeding to
Sydney, to procure a remount of several hundred horses for
the British cavalry at Madras, having contracted with the
Government to receive for each, after they were landed and
approved of there, the sum of 54/. or 55/., the writer forgets
which. Capt. Collins mentioned that the number of horses
likely to be wanted in subsequent years would be much
greater, and expressed his intention of visiting King
George's Sound,* with a view to the future establishraent
of a breeding stud there, being sensible that a considerable
saving would thus accrue, as the expense and risk at pre
sent incurred in importing them frora the Eastern coast are
very great.
On reference to a preceding part of this pamphlet* it will
be found that during the winter season in the southern
* Now that the harbours in the vicinity of Swan River are weU ascertained,
and have been found to afford safe entrance and anchorage, they are likely
to be resorted to in preference to King George's Sound for the above pur
pose; as it is of importance that vessels that have live stock on board,
should not have to double Cape Leeuwin.

102
hemisphere, a vessel may easily accomplish the voyage from
Swan River to Madras in three weeks, and have fine weather
the whole way ; but the passage to India from the penal
settlements at the same season would require at least twice
that time, as the voyage would be along the East coast and
through Torres Straits.
It is needless to dwell on the peculiar advantages Swan
River would afford to the capitalist who embarked in the
speculation of raising horses for the India market, where
150/. is no unusual price for a good riding horse. Power
ful carriage horses are also in ^reat request there. — ^The
latest accounts from the colony mention that it had been
proposed to form a corapany, having for its object the pur
chase of Sir James Stirling's fine stud of eight thorough
bred horses, lately arrived, and which are mostly, if not en
tirely, from Lord Egremont's stud. The suggestion seems
to have arisen from an apprehension that part of the stud
was about to be sent to another colony, and a strong desire
to retain so valuable an acquisition.
* See page 20.

CHAPTER VIII.

Colonization — Colonel Napier and the "Self-supporting Principle" —
Mistaken Policy pointed out — Article on Colonization in Archbishop
Whately's Work.

Having now completed the view the writer had designed
to take of the " State and Position of Western Australia,"
and brought down the information respecting it to the
period of the latest arrivals, there remain a few points
closely connected with the general principles of Colonial
Legislation and Government, which he is desirous very
briefly to notice. And first, though he has felt it incum
bent upon hira to notice certain errors into which Colonel
Napier has inadvertently fallen respecting Western Australia,
still he feels called upon to do justice to the validity of the
reasons on which that officer has declined " the govern
ment of the South Australian colony, without troops, and
the power to draw upon the British Government for money,
in case of need."
" My demand," says the Colonel, " for soldiers and
" money is not at variance with the ' self-supporting prin-
" ciple of the new colony : ' the expression ' self-support-

104
" ing principle ' is as pretty a little philosophical expression
" as may be ; but reflection will show the commissioners
" that it is not strictly applicable in the present case ; for
" that the very existence of the colony, as we see by the
" Act of Parliament, depends upon a loan of 200,000/. from
" the good folks in England ; that is to say, upon extraneous
" support : what then becomes of the ' self-supporting prin-
" ciple ? ' The Commissioners must raean ' loan-supporting
" principle,' and the word ' self ' was an accidental slip of
" the pen ? And how is my demand at variance with this
" loan -supporting system ? In case the loan of 200,000/.
" should not prove sufficient to establish the colony, to pay
" its own interest, and to defray the cost of Government,
" till the state of the colony produces a revenue equal to
" all this expense, I demanded to have a pledge from the
" British Government, that it would supply the deficiency,
" and enable me to protect the colony, which might other-
" wise be destroyed by the miscalculation of people in
" London, on whose correctness alone I do not think it
" safe to hang the destinies of some thousands of people :
" therefore, ray deraand was that, in case of need, the Bri-
" tish Governraent should advance the loan, instead of
" private people. How, in the narae of coramon sense,
" this is at variance with the ' loan-supporting principle '
" I cannot imagine, and must leave the Commissioners to
" explain. " As to the troops, I recommend sending out 200 British
" soldiers, because they would be by far the cheapest force
" that can be employed. Some force must be employed,
" and, besides being the most effectual force, English sol-
" diers would save expense, both to the mother-country, and
" the colony. If the Commissioners abandon the really
" 'self-supporting' system of economy, they will soon see
" the result."

105
The writer trusts that the remarks into which he may be
drawn by having had his attention turned to the work just
quoted for the purpose of correcting the errors lately ad
verted to, will be taken in good part. Attached, as he is
ready to acknowledge himself, to the colony of Western
Australia, he is conscious of no feelings of hostility to the
sister settlement, which it is indeed his cordial wish to serve,
rather than to injure, by warning its Directors of those rocks
and quicksands upon which he fears they may b6 running
their vessel. — If they persist in their endeavour to found
and establish their intended settlement without the aid of a
military force, not only to protect the settlers from the ab
origines, but to assist in keeping order among the colonists
themselves, and to ensure obedience to the laws, they will,
he feels assured, be only eventually serving the settlement
of Western Australia. His experience and observation of
what settlers ordinarily can accomplish in an infant colony,
and his conviction that few in any hundred of them pos
sess all the requisites necessary for very speedily master
ing the difficulties they have to encounter, induce him to
caution the projectors against the line of policy which they
propose to adopt, in attempting to dispense with public
money, and especially with troops.
As to any jealousy of the sister colony influencing the
mind of the writer, he utterly disclaims it. It may be as
well, in confirmation of this, to state, that in his opinion,
the situation, the geographical position alone, of Western
Australia, gives it a great and permanent advantage. That
in addition to this, it is no trifling point in favour of
the latter, that it has the start of the new settlement, and
that many who leave Great Britain to go to South Australia,
impatient of the total absence of the comforts they leave be
hind them, will be likely to transfer themselves and their
capital to the colony which has passed through the initiatory

106
stage. These reasons alone are sufficient in the writer's opinion
to prove that the capital, and the energies which the friends of
the South Australian project may be able to call forth, will,
under any circumstances, benefit the settlement of Western
Australia. But, if to these causes, which nothing cankeep from
operating in a greater or less degree in the direction described,
a third be superadded — if the ordinary precautions for the
security of the settlers are to be dispensed with, and they
are to be constantly liable to be called off from their proper
pursuits, to defend themselves and the infant settlement —
it requires no gift of prophecy to predict, that the result
will be, a rapid and general migration, as opportunity and
means may offer, to other colonies ; and that as Western
Australia is near at hand, and in the full enjoyment of free
institutions, it cannot but largely participate in the benefits
that must result frora the failure of so improvident an at
terapt as that in which Colonel Napier has declined risking
his reputation.
The daily employment of settlers in a new colony demands
and engrosses their attention to a degree that people at home,
who have always been used to a long-established and com
pletely organized state of society, are but little prepared to
conceive. The occupations of such persons being pastoral as
well as agricultural, lead to their distribution over a consider
able extent of country. A colony also like the one proposed,
though happily not intended as a penal settlement, will
have its ports open to all who have the means and inclination
to find their way thither ; and granting that it could com
mence with a greater proportion of settlers of character and
intelligence than ever yet found their way to the shores of a
colony — still the stream of emigration will bear along with
it many who have not the qualities that render them desir
able to a new settlement, and who soon evince they need the
restraint of a strong and efficient executive.

107
Again, many who are good and well-conducted members
of an old community in which they have been brought up,
are greatly indebted, for the character they possess, to those
restraints which it has wisely, and from long experience,
provided. The entire change of habits, and the wider range
which a new settlement involves, not to raention the contact
and neighbourhood of tribes in the lowest state of barbarism,
have more or less a relaxing tendency as regards the moral
texture of such minds ; and, if the laws of the colony into
which they are transplanted are not strictly maintained, but,
on the contrary, impose little or no restraint, society must
of course deteriorate, and the entire community ultimately
suffer. It is indeed a truism, but one involving grave con
siderations, that it is much easier to prevent the disorgani
zation of a community, than to reunite and restore it when
once it has been suffered to lapse into disorder and demo
ralization. It is also of the utmost importance to bear in mind, that
a colonial Government that cannot secure, in ordinary cases,
protection to the settlers and their property, must operate
most injuriously and cruelly upon the aborigines themselves.
These encompass them on every side — they cannot help
doing so. Each tribe has its recognised boundaries and land
marks. If but one is disturbed, it experiences a difficidty
in falling back, and retiring upon the tribes in its rear, who
are similarly situated in their turn. They continue, there
fore, to hover about their ancient grounds, and depend for
their subsistence upon them. The more incompetent the
colonial establishments to keep order in the colony and pre
vent depredation, the more liable will be the dispersed
settlers to take the law into their own hands ; or rather, to
make law for themselves, and unreservedly to execute such
law as they think fit, or as passion or caprice may dictate,
in every case in which the natives may be involved. The

108
mere feeling of insecurity has this tendency; and the result of
such a state of things would be the gradual extermination of
the natives, while the sanguinary and lawless spirit engen
dered and encouraged, would re-act, and be productive of
frightful consequences to the settlers themselves, continuing
to pervade the community long after the aborigines had
ceased to be objects of terror.
The writer has ventured thus freely, and at greater length
than he had intended, to express his opinion, from the deep
conviction he entertains that a serious error in colonial
policy is about to be committed, which may stiU be cor
rected before any mischievous consequences ensue.* In the
* The following is an extract from Colonel Napier's review of the letter he
received in reply to his demand for money and troops, firom the South Aus
tralian Commissioners, and which letter bears date May 22, 1835 : —
Paragraph 4. " ' The most flourishing British colonies in North America
" ' were founded without pecuniary aid from the mother-country, and with-
" ' out the aid of military force, though planted in the immediate neighbour-
" ' hood of warlike Indian nations.' " — See the Commissioners' Letter,
On this sentence the Colonel makes the following " Observation ; " — " I
have only to refer to any history of the British colonies in North America, to
contradict the assertion contained in this paragraph. By such reference the
Commissioners will see that, for many years, these infant colonies struggled
vi'iVii the greatest hardships, and that some were entirely destroyed! When
Pennsylvania, which suffered the least, was granted to Penn in 1682, the
country had been previously occupied for above fifty years : it had numerous
settlers, and was not a desert. Besides, he went with Quakers. If aU the
colonists going to Australia were Quakers, and that I was WiUiam Penn,
neither would I ask for troops ! But what was the consequence of the peace
ful government established by that great man? It was this, that in 1764 a
body of Presbyterians chose, in their zeal against ' the heathen,' to massacre
a whole tribe of harmless Indians ; and ' the weakness of ihe Government,'
says Robert Proud, the historian of Pennsylvania, ' was not able to punish
these murderers, nor to chastise ihe insurgents.' For my own part, I have no
ambition to be at the head of such a milk-and-water colonial government,
and, while fancying myself a governor, discover that I was only a football !
But we find the great Penn himself complaining that it was ' controversy, not
government,' in Pennsylvania. Let us then put Penn and his Quakers out of
our heads.
" All other settlements were retarded in their progress by wars. The want
of regular soldiers obliged the settlers to arm, instead of attending lo their
peaceful avocations. Dr. Trumbull, in his History of Connecticut, says,

109
mean time he congratulates the colonists of Western Aus
tralia, that no such visionary experiment is operating there.
Whenever that colony shall have arrived at the point at
which it can be fairly considered capable of providing for its
own establishraents, no principle can be more equitable than
that it should be called upon to do so ; but, till then, if the
colony is to be suitably maintained as a part of the British
dominions, it is essential that the mother country continue
to extend her aid.
But hastening from these questions, the writer cannot let
this opportunity pass without expressing the gratification
he has experienced while considering the grand and states-
' These infant settlements were surrounded by savages' (So the Australian
colony will be.) ' They conceived themselves in danger when, ihey went out and
when they came in ; every man was a soldier, which produced viar, and of course
injury io ihe colonies.' Thus it appears that, contrary to the assertion in the
Commissioners' letter, there was ' a military force ; ' and, had it been of a
proper description, the colonies would not have suffered injury.
" In 1606 King James formed a colony in America, ' under the superin
tendence of a council in England, composed of a few persons of consideration and
talents.' King James made many blunders during his reign, and this seems
to have been one of them ! These Councillors directed the colony in Virginia.
For near twenty years, under their superintendence, the colony suffered all
kinds of misery, and was ' a prey to folly, crime, riot, and insubordination.'
During that tirae ' one hundred and fifty thousand pounds and nine thousand
people had been sent from England ;' and when these Commissioners (whose
power it was at last deemed necessary to abolish, and who thought they could
govern across the Atlantic) were upset, there remained but eighteen hundred
miserable colonists in Virginia ! And moreover, the famous Captain Smith,
a man of extraordinary courage and talents, governed this colony for a time,
and by his great abilities prevented its total ruin. Once these wild colonists
expelled him, and afterwards, when danger pressed, elected hira President !
Another colony, planted near Cape Hatteras, disappeared altogether, and was
never heard of more ! Twenty-one years are now past since I landed, at the
head of 900 British troops, on this very spot, near Cape Hatteras ; and, from
the nature of that coast, I can easily imagine that a colony might be there
surprised and totally destroyed, either by enemies or sickness. Some of the
Australian Commissioners were, probably, then at school, so I may take the
liberty, appertaining to grey hairs, and tell them that colonies, like camps,
are exposed to many dangers, and, among others, those of site, which gentle
men, living always in London, are not exactly the people most fitted either
to estimate or provide against."— p. xx— xxiii.

no
man-like principles propounded in an article which forms
No. III. of the Appendix to Archbishop Whately's
" Thoughts on Secondary Punishments," and which con
sists of " Suggestions for the Improvement of our System
of Colonization," written by a friend of that Prelate. After
noticing the instruction to be derived from the ancients,
with respect to the settlement and growth of colonies, and
contrasting their success with that of raodern European
States, the writer thus continues : —
" The raain cause of this difference may be stated in a
" few words. We send out colonies of the lirabs, without
" the belly and head ; — of needy persons, many of them
" mere paupers, or even criminals ; colonies made up of a
" single class of persons in the community, and that the
" most helpless, and the most unfit to perpetuate our
" national character, and to becorae the fathers of a race
" whose habits of thinking and feeling shall correspond
" to those which, in the mean time, we are cherishing at
" home. The ancients, on the contrary, sent out a repre-
" sentation of the parent state — colonists from all ranks.
" We stock the farm with creeping and climbing plants,
" without any trees of firmer growth for them to entwine
" round. A hop -ground left without poles, the plants
" matted confusedly together, and scrambling on the ground
" in tangled heaps, with here and there some clinging to
" rank thistles and hemlocks, would be an apt emblem
" of a modern colony. They began by nominating to
" the honourable office of captain or leader of the colony
" one of the chief men, if not the chief man of the
" state, — like the queen bee leading the workers. Mon-
" archies provided a prince of the blood royal ; an aris-
" tocracy its choicest nobleman ; a democracy its most in-
" fluential citizen. These naturally carried along with them
" some of their own station in life — their companions and

Ill
" friends ; some of their immediate dependants also — of
" those between theraselves and the lowest class ; and were
" encouraged in various ways to do so. The lowest class
" again followed with alacrity, because they found thera-
" selves moving with, and not away from, the state of society
" in which they had been living. It was the same social
" and political union under which they had been born and
" bred ; and to prevent any contrary impression being made,
" the utmost solemnity was observed in transferring the
" rites of Pagan superstition. They carried with them
" their gods — their festivals — their gaines ; all, in short,
" that held together, and kept entire the fabric of society as
" it existed in the parent state. Nothing was left behind
" that could be moved, — of all that the heart or eye of an exile
" misses. The new colony was made to appear as if time or
" chance had reduced the whole community to smaller
" dimensions, leaving it still essentially the same horae and
" country to its surviving members. It consisted of a gene-
" ral contribution of members from all classes, and so
" becarae, on its first settlement, a mature state, with all
" the component parts of that which sent it forth. It was
" a transfer of population, therefore, which gave rise to no
" sense of degradation, as if the colonist were thrust out
" from a higher to a lower description of community." —
p. 190—2.
The foregoing writer not only contrasts this with all that
happens in a raodern colony, but particularly traces its
results in the United States of America, where, he says,
whatever admixture they had of the higher ranks of the
British coramunity, " the advantage, such as it was, was
accidental," and formed " no part of the legislative project."
He adds, — " our later colonists have not had even this secu
rity and ill-administered aid;" and, after reraarking that
" honour, rank, and power, are less ruinous bribes than

112
money, and yet more to the purpose, inasmuch as they influ
ence more generous minds," he maintains that if some half
dozen gentleraen of influence and competent fortune were
thus tempted out, their united influence would draw after
them numbers of respectable emigrants, including many a
clergyman, "whose acquirements would give hira weight
with the better sort, and whose character and talents
would, at the same time, answer for the particular situa
tion in which he would be placed." " Such a colony,"
says he, " will be united to us by ties to which one of a
" different constitution must be a stranger. It will have
" received from us, and will always trace to us, all its social
" ingredients. Its highest class will be ours — its gentry
" ours — its clergy ours — its lower and its lowest ranks all
" ours ; all corresponding and congenial to our manners,
" institutions, and even our prejudices. Instead of grudg-
" ingly casting our morsels to a miserable dependant, we
" shall have sent forth a child worthy of its parent, and
" capable of maintaining itself." — p. 199.
An apology is due to the writer of the splendid article
from which the above extracts are taken, for the very im
perfect attempt at analysis which has been made. The
whole paper is well worthy the consideration of the public
and the legislature ; and it is to be hoped that the " detailed
scheme," to which that article is announced as only pre
fatory, will be speedily forthcoming.

CHAPTER IX.

A FEW CONCLUDING HINTS TO EMIGRANTS.

Before the writer takes his final leave, he would venture
to throw out a few suggestions on the subject of Emigration.
Conscious of the responsibility he incurs in putting forth
statements which raay lead individuals to take a step of
so rauch iraportance to themselves and their families, as the
selection of a distant colony for their future abode, he would
strongly urge upon them to examine Avell the prospects
which they are leaving at home, and not to act precipitately.
They have to reflect whether — be a colony ever so inviting —
it is worth their while to abandon old connexions and well-
established institutions. They have also to consider whether,
favourable as the opening may really be, they are the kind
of persons for whom it is likely to answer. A mistake on
either of these points may be ruinous to their ultimate peace
and happiness. In the "Letters and Journals" of Mr.
Moore, to which reference has already more than once been
made, there is a passage bearing on this point, that well
deserves consideration.

114
" As to coming out, I am still reluctant in giving advice to
" any one on the subject. It is a serious responsibility to
" hold out strong inducements, when success depends so
" much upon the taste, bodily fitness, and preparation for it.
" To corae here costs rauch ; a considerable sum is also
" further necessary to support you until you can maintain
" yourself. Land must be paid for — if obtained from Go-
" vernment, at the rate of 5s. per acre." . . . . " Two or
" three stout hard-working brothers, or a father with a
" grown-up family able and willing to assist him, with some
" money to establish themselves in rough comfort and
" plenty, would be independent in a few years ; but there
" must be no squeamishness as to food, nor daintiness as to
" luxuries ; it is a plodding, matter-of-fact, business-like
" and hard-working life, until you get yourself established ;
" with very little of that romance and adventure about it,
" which is so tempting and alluring to young minds. Yet
" it has its pleasures ; but it is quite right that people should
" prepare themselves for what it really is. 1 ara still un-
" willing to recommend emigration to any one ; for the sort
" of life is so different from that at home, that many would
" be discontented with it, and blame the adviser instead of
" themselves. I had made up my mind to endure every
" kind of hardship and privation for three years at least ;
" yet here, at the end of two years (Oct. 1833), I live almost
" as well as I could wish, and certainly lead a healthier, and
" happier, and less anxious life,* now that the first struggle
" is over."
The writer, after carefully reviewing what has been stated
in the preceding pages respecting the colony of Western
* In this last sentence there appears to be some obscurity. From conver
sations the author has had with Mr. Moore on the subject, he has no doubt
that the comparison intended to be instituted was between the life Mr. Moore
was then passing as a settler, and that which he had led before he went out
to the colony.

115
Australia, is satisfied that he has not put forth exaggerated
statements, but has given, to the best of his ability, a fair
and impartial account of the actual state of things. While,
on the one hand, he has felt called upon to notice incorrect
reports that have been published, to the prejudice of the
colony, be has, on the other, studiously rejected exaggerated
or erroneous accounts that have been circulated in its favour.
Those who may be about to emigrate cannot be too often
reminded that judgment, perseverance, andfortititde, are as
essential to their success as good climate and soil, and mode
rate means. It is true that the colony having attained to
its present position, much of the difficulty of the enterprize
is removed, and many may now prosper who would not have
done so originally; but without some portion of those
valuable qualities above specified, the emigrant, under the
most favourable circumstances, ought not to expect suc
cess. A colonist, at Swan River, who had seen a great deal of
vicissitude, in a recent letter to a friend in England writes
thus : — " We have laid the foundation for all new comers to
build on : we have purchased dear-bought experience —
knowledge to guide all who may feel a wish for enterprize.
Were it in our power to recal the time that is past, and were
we now to come here, with about 100/. in cash, together
with a few of the many useful things we brought out, we
should be certain of prosperity."
The emigrant who has abundant pecuniary resources to
draw upon, will still find his advantage in beginning on a
moderate scale, and in always keeping a considerable portion
of capital in hand, till he can thoroughly judge of the calls
there may be upon him. The neglect of this caution has
given rise to much difficulty and embarrassment, even where
the original means of the settler have been large. The
sphere of his operations can easily be extended afterwards.
I 2

116
If a capitalist, such as is here contemplated, intend to
make the breeding of sheep his principal pursuit, he will do
well to take out with hira a couple of shepherds, half-a-dozen
Saxon or Spanish rams, and a few dogs, in the first instance ;
and to contract with respectable parties in Van Diemen's
Land or Sydney, for the landing of ewes at Swan River.
Each of those places has its peculiar advantages. At Syd
ney the wools are finer; while the distance in the other
case is less, and the reduction of freight in proportion. At
both places Merino sheep abound. As the capitalist would
probably stop at the Cape, he might make arrangements for
taking on board some of the Father-land breed of cattle,
which is deservedly esteemed. The writer has had cows
of this kind which were considered equal to the Durham
afid Devonshire breeds..
In choosing sites for building, care should be taken to
provide against those occasional floods from which the
settlement is not exempt, though several years sometimes
may elapse before they recur. The early Swan-River
settlers were fortunate in following a season of this kind,
which put them on their guard. Another evil, however,
against which some of them have not sufficiently provided,
and in consequence have suffered very severely, is^re. It
is of great importance in a country where, at times, trees
and vegetation are greatly dried .up with sun and heat, to
keep the space around a dwelling clear and open. The
thatched roof is rather objectionable for a similar reason,
though in many situations it may at first be in some measure
necessary. The accumulation of farming produce, corn and
hay ricks, &c., at a particular spot, should also be avoided,
as attended with danger.
In reply to a question that has frequently been put to the
writer, as to how rauch it would be necessary for a person to
take out with him to commence as an agriculturist or sheep-

117
farmer, on a moderate scale, his answer has been from 800/.
to 1000/. ; and after canvassing the subject of late with
different individuals, who have been for several years in the
colony, some agreeing with him, and others rating the requi
site sum much higher, the writer would still adhere to that
opinion ; but the emigrant, to succeed with this sum, must
begin at first in a careful way, and determine to put his own
shoulder to the wheel, and consent to work with, his own
men, as well as to direct their labours. A fourth or fifth of
the raeans of such a settler might be invested in articles that
would sell well in the colony ; as salt-pork, butter, Ameri
can flour in casks (if cheap), some strong shoes and leather,
hops, porter, &c. He should take for his own use wearing
apparel for one or two years, calculating upon eight summer
monihs and four winter months, and strong shoes for two
or three years, with a good stock of flannel, and some mat
tresses ; — also a plough, a small cart, a pair of harrows, and
a few spades and shovels, sorae plain carpenter's tools, axes,
&c., and spare handles. If the emigrant last described in
tends to be a sheep-farmer, he should take out two or three
Merino rams, and some sheep-dogs.
With respect to servants, the emigrant should have two
men understanding arable and sheep farming, or what would
be better, a married man, with one or two sons above the age of
ten. Much of his comfort and success will depend on his ser
vants ; the settler therefore cannot be too scrupulous in his
inquiry into their character for integrity, and fidelity to the
masters with whom they have lived. It will be for the ultimate
benefit, as well as comfort, of the emigrant that the terms of
agreement he makes with his people be liberal ; so that, on
reaching the colony, they should not be excited to discontent
by any great disproportion between their wages and the cur
rent rate in the colony. Letters from the settlement, ad
dressed to the Avriter, and that come down to the 26th of

118
January last, state, " there is no cause to complain of the
now current price of agricultural labour ; very good hands can
be procured at 30s. per month." In addition to this, are the
servants' rations, which hitherto have cost more than the
wages, but they may now be calculated at less. The entire
cost of a shepherd has been from 60/. to 70/., owing to ser
vants of this class, especially good ones, being scarce. The
expense of taking out servants is about 20/. each, and children
one-third or one-half of that amount, according to their
ages. The writer would not advise that the indenture should
be for a longer period than three or at most four years,
after which the servant would be at liberty to leave his
master, or enter into a new agreement with him. In
suggesting liberality in agreements entered into with
servants, as good policy on the part of the emigrant,
tbe writer would at the same time have it prospective, in
order that every inducement should be held out to good con
duct and fidelity. With this view tbe wages should be
somewhat low for the first year, and increase step by step
each succeeding year. The writer would recommend there
being inserted in the indenture a clause to the effect that
if, on completion of the period named therein, the servant
has fulfilled his engageraent to the satisfaction of his em
ployer, the former should become entitled to a bonus of
from thirty to fifty acres of good land. Should the servant
choose then to retire on his land, the master would thus se
cure in him a valuable neighbour, to assist in harvest and
at other seasons of need.
The mode of paying shepherds adopted on the borders
of Scotland is deserving of imitation. Having lately been
trying in that quarter to get men of character to send out
this season to his farm in the colony, the writer has learned
that shepherds in Selkirkshire receive for wages in lieu of
money the product of a ccrtahi number of sheep. The

119
average wages for the last two years there are calculated at
from 28/. to 30/. for the best hands ; while for the nine years
preceding, they have been but from 18/. to 20/. Married
shepherds, besides the product of the sheep, have a cow's
grass worth 6/., a free house and garden in value bl. or 6/.,
and oatmeal to the extent of bl. more. By the mode of
payment adopted on the borders, the vigilant superintend
ence of the shepherd is in a great measure secured, by his
interests being combined with those of his employer.
The emigrant should resolutely avoid engaging to supply
his servants with rations of spirits ; a practice which has
been productive of very baneful results in the demoraliza
tion of servants, while it inflicts a heavy tax on the master.
Good colonial beer would form an excellent substitute, and
it might be a stipulation in the indenture that the servant
should be supplied with it whenever there was any ready
means of obtaining it ; but the settler, after the second
year, ought to brew for his own establishment.
For the first two years the emigrant should be satisfied to
live in such a cottage as he could erect with the aid of his
own people — one of a description similar to that mentioned
in pp. 52 and 53. This he will find a sufficiently comfort
able dwelling both in summer and winter. The cottage
should be contiguous to the best site the land affords for a
permanent residence, so that it might serve for a kitchen
and servants' apartments when the farm-house was com
pleted ; but the prudent settler will not undertake this latter
work till he is enabled to do it out of the profits of his farm,
whether pastoral or agricultural ; and then it should be a
good substantial building of stone or brick. It need not
then be expensive, as the settler could in the intermediate
time be procuring the materials, either by the labour of his
people, or by barter from his neighbours. If the means of
the emigrant are ample enough to render it unnecessary for

120
him to put his own hand to the work, the writer would still
advise him to take part with his people in active labour, as
well as to plan and superintend. This will prevent time
hanging heavy on his hands, as he mil soon become inte
rested in the simplest operations, and the want ef society
will then be little felt. An additional advantage would be
that the servants would work so much better from seeing
their master not sparing himself. The occasional labour of
the raaster raay be safely reckoned equal, at least, to the
work of an additional servant, even where bis people are
trustworthy ; but if they are eye-servants, requiring to be
watched, the employer's superintendence will make a much
greater difference.
It only remains for the writer now to point out the be
nefit the emigrant may derive froiri proceeding at once to the
colony at the present juncture. A letter from a friend with
whom he is in correspondence, dated January 24, after
mentioning how severely the deplorable condition of the
markets for the last four years had pressed upon many of the
first settlers, obliging sorae to part with their farms, contains
this passage — " In the end, I certainly think this change
will conduce to the stability of the colony ; inasmuch as the
land is gradually getting into the hands of really practical
and laborious farmers, who can produce more, and live at
far less cost, than a superior rank of farmers." Persons
arriving now in the colony may purchase from an impove
rished settler a grant of from 3000 to 4000 acres of good
land, and well situated, in the district of York or else
where, for from 200/. to 300/. perhaps ; but when this land
is no longer in the market, the emigrant must purchase land
from the Local Government, in situations beyond those at
present occupied, and at the price of 5s. per acre, being the
minimum fixed by his Majesty's Government.
It may be of importance to emigrants purposing to go out

121
to Western Australia, as well as to the friends of persons
already settled there, to be informed that Messrs. Mangles,
East India Agents, of Austin Friars, London, who have sent
one of their vessels, the Hero, this year to the colony, have
announced their intention to send a regular packet thither
every year, to sail on the 1st of June, with passengers and
freight, and also to put on one or more additional vessels, as
occasion may require. The remaining ships bound for the
colony this year are, the Giraffe, to sail on the 10th of
August, and the Briton, about the same time.

Having now touched upon all the various topics that have
occurred to him, and endeavoured to discharge what ap
peared to be a duty both to the public and the colonists, in
making known the actual condition of the settlement, the
writer has only to hope that a beneficial purpose will be
answered. As there never, perhaps, was a period when a
spirit of emigration more extensively prevailed, he is induced
to believe that the appearance of this publication at such a
juiicture will be found not unseasonable. Should it be the
means of rightly directing any of his countrymen who may
now be looking out for a field of honourable and successful
enterprize, he will consider himself amply recompensed for
any labour the task has imposed. In his judgment — on a
calm and deliberate review of the whole subject — the colony
of Western Australia is calculated to yield a rich return to
capital, industry, and perseverance, and appears to be des
tined by Providence to take a distinguished rank among the
dependencies of the British Empire.

APPENDIX.

A TABLE showing the variations of the Thermometer and Barometer at Perth, Western Australia, from
1st January to 31st December 1831.

Dates.

Jan. Feb.March
AprilMayJuneJuly Aug.Sep.Oct.
Nov.Dec.

Thermometer.

Max, Med. Min
106 87 68

102 969878

827873
61

70 52 38

677678
799596

50
59514
63i78

Barometer.

Max. Med. Min.
30.10 29.914 29.72§
30.20 30.02J 29.85
30.20 30.05 29.92

30.2530.40

30.1030.15

29.95
29.90

30.30 29.90 29.50

29.7029.8029.70

30.40 30.05
30.40 30.10
30.30 30.10
30.40 30.074 29.75
30.15 29.90J 29.66
30.25 30.074 29.90

PrevHiling Winds.

N.E. byN.&S.W,
N.E. & S.W.
N.E. & S.W.
E.N.E. & S.W.
N.E. N.W. & S.W.
N.W. S.W. & N.E.
N.E. N.W. & S.W.
N.E. & S.W.
N.W. S.W.&N.E.
N.E. & S.W.
W. & S.W.
N.E. & S.W.

WEATHER.
Generally fine and very sultry.
/Thunder on 7th, 13th, and 14th, with rain on these
X days. Remainder of month fine.
J Rain on 27th, and 28th, at full moon ; remainder
\ fine.
Fine, with the exception of three rainy days.
Much rain, and heavy dews.
r Lightning and thunder 8th, 12th, and 13th; frequent
\ showers, but neither long continued nor heavy.
r The greater part fine. Severe thunder-storm on Sth.
|_ Ice on 9th, thunder on 16th. ¦
A good deal of rain. A strong gale on the 5th.
/Mostly cloudy and occasional showers. Thunder on
\ the 2nd, lOth, and 19th.
Variable, cloudy, and rainy for the greater part.
/ Squally, cloudy and rainy at beginning. Latter part
\ fine.
f Generally fine, a regular land and sea breeze, with a
1 little rain.

N.B. The Thermometer stood in a thatched hut, not well situated to receive the sea breeze. In comparison with
one kept in a brick house near the river, a difference of 15 degrees was observable, being so much lower during the hot
months in the latter, especiaUy during the prevalence of the sea breeze. The observations were taken at 7 in the morning,
2 in the afternoon, and 7 in the evening. (Signed.; W. Milligan, M.D., 63rd Regiment.

>
a
X
o

IO

126

APPENDIX, No. II.

Extract from a Meteorological Journal of King George's Sound,
Western Australia, for the year ending 30th April 1832, by A. Collie,
Esq., Colonial Surgeon. TutalQnantily ofKaininIhe
nioiitli by l^luviameter.
2.2015
6.4014
6.4453
6.6268
3.2403 1.6721
0.1295
0.26'>2
0.8841 0.3556
2.5383

Mean Temperature.

N'l.of Uajs' Rain

8 A.M.

Sunset.

in the Moniii.

May, 1831

61

63

13

June

56

58

18

July

52

56

16

Aug.

53

56

17

Sept.

55

58

14

Oct.

58

59

11

Nov.

60

61

10

Dec.

62

63

7

Jan. 1832

67

65

5

Feb.

67

66

4

March

65

66

13

April

61

CO

U

APPENDIX, No. III.

MEDICAL REPORTS.
Extract prom Dr. Wm, Milligan's Report on the Diseases op
Western Australia, for the Year endino 31 December, 1831.
{Addressed to the Governor.)
The favourable opinion I have already expressed of the influence of
this climate on European constitutions, and of the place as a resi
dence for invalids from India, is strengthened by a further experience
of two years.
I have met with several individuals here, who on leaving England
were great sufferers from dyspepsia, and disorders of the digestive
organs, generally from the nervous affections which so often accom
pany these— from hypochondria, from asthma, and from bronchial

127
diseases— who have recovered their health in a remarkable degree since
their arrival. Some of slight figure have become more robust and
stronger. Parturition with the female sex is expeditious and safe ;
being accomplished by the efforts of nature alone, within from three
to six hours. No woman has died in childbirth in this colony since
its commencement, nor am I aware of any who died within a month
after. Children thrive remarkably well, and I may add every description
of live stock, although collected from different climates, — England,
India, South America, Africa, &c., and various plants and vegetables,
collected from as many different sources, find here a congenial tem
perature. Indeed I am disposed to conclude, that when the settlers are well
lodged and fed, and the country more cultivated and improved, but
few diseases will be met with ; I might perhaps say, only dysentery
and ophthalmia, and these of a mild character.
(Signed) Wm. Milligan, M.D,

His Majesty's sloop Sulphur,
10th December, 1832.
Sir,
In compliance with your Excellency's request, as to my opinion of
the climate of Swan River, I beg leave to state, as a climate, with re
gard to health, I am not aware of any other that can be compared
with it.
As a proof of its salubrity, during three years his Majesty's sloop
Sulphur was employed upon that station, not a single death, and very
few important cases of disease, occurred ; notwithstanding the very
great exposure of her men, not only to wet, but also night air, in con
sequence of her boats having been a great deal employed at a distance
from the anchorage. When exploring the country for several days, and
sometimes weeks, these people have been exposed to' the sun, fatigued
in the evening, after a day's excursion, slept in the open air, and that
repeatedly in wet weather, without suffering in the slightest degree.
Another point ought also to be taken into consideration — the debi
litated state of those constitutions which were undergoing this expo
sure, in consequence of having been so long a period upon salt pro
visions and without vegetable diet— out of three years and ten months

128
the Sulphur was employed upon the Swan River service; her crew were
only 256 days upon fresh diet. A life of this description in any other
climate, I have no hesitation in asserting, would have been productive
of the most serious disease. I have, &c. &c.
(S'lgnedJ J. W. Johnson, M. D.,
Surgeon, H. M. S. Sulphur.
To his Excellency Governor Stirling, &c. &c.

APPENDIX, No. IV.

Description op the Roadsteads and Harbours op Western
Australia, communicated in a Letter addressed to the
Author by Capt. Preston, R.N.
Cockburn Sound. In approaching the land keep the Haycock on
Garden Island N.E.iN. (magnetic) till within 1^ miles of Garden
Island, when you will have passed over the five fathoms' bank, and will
-be in nine to eleven fathoms water ; then steer to the northward, till
the Challenger Buoy comes in one with the Stags and Spit Beacons :
a pilot will then come on board, but you may safely run into Cock
burn Sound by the chart, keeping the Challenger and Stags on the
right hand, and the Middle Beacon and Flat Ledge on the left. The
Snapper Buoy and Pointer Beacon show the south passage into Owen's
Anchorage or into Gage's Roads. Not knowing if the buoys and pilots
are complete in the channel into Cockburn Sound, it would be ad
visable for ships to make Rottnest Island ; keep it on your right hand
and run for Gage's Roads, as off Fremantle you are sure of getting
a pilot, when you may anchor either in the Roads or Owen's Anchor
age, according to the season. Owen's Anchorage is good and safe at
all seasons of the year ; and, in my humble opinion, tiiere is not the
slightest necessity to go into Cockburn Sound, unless a ship requires
to be hove down, when Port Royal will be found well adapted for that
purpose ; as his Majesty's ship Success was hove keel out, during the
most tempestuous winter (1830), and was never obliged to be Tightened

129
through any swell setting in to the Anchorage. The number of ships
that were driven on shore during that winter, was entirely owing to their
not being properly found with anchors and cables, and want of common
precaution. The masters ofthe ships had all sufficient warning and op
portunity to run into Owen's Anchorage from the Governor (Sir James
Stirling); besides, lo7ig before the gale carae on, the barometer fell so
much as to make us keep an anchor-watch on board the Sulphur,
which we very seldom had occasion to do.
From March to the beginning of September gales of wind from
N.W. to S.W. may be expected on the coast. They usually commence
at N.N.E., and are always preceded by very great depression of the
barometer. As they haul round to the westward, they are accompa
nied by heavy squalls of wind and rain, and generally blow most
heavily when at N.W. Before the wind gets to the S.W. the glass is
seen to rise suddenly, and the change generally takes place in a heavy
squall ; after which the weather becomes clear and moderate.
Ships should not run for the land during a gale, unless they are well
acquainted with it, and certain of, their latitude and longitude. In run
ning for the land, in blowing weather, I have often been certain of
my reckoning by the soundings.
The appearance of Rottnest and Garden Island is low and sandy ;
but, in clear weather, the main land will be seen distinctly over them.
The distance from Owen's Anchorage to Scott's Jetty, in Fremantle
Bay, is about two miles and a quarter.
King George's Sound, with its Harbours.
In running into King George's Sound there is no danger through
either channel. A spit runs off the N.E. end of Michaelmas Island, but
shoals gradually to the shore. After you are inside the Island, you
may anchor in any part ofthe Sound in moderate weather. There are
two secure Harbours in the Sound, Princess Royal and Oyster ; the
former will admit ships drawing eighteen or nineteen feet water ; the
latter vessels drawing ten feet. Wood, water, and ballast, may be ob
tained at both places. (Signed) William Preston.
To Capt. F. C. Irwin, &c. &c. &c.

130

Cockburn Sound and Owen's Anchorage.
The following account of the buoys at the entrance of the above
harbours has been extracted from the " Nautical Magazine" for
March 1835, into which it was copied from the " Perth Gazette,"
forwarded to that publication by the Surveyor-General, Lieutenant
J. S. Roe, RN.
The Challenger Buoy, painted black, is moored in six fathoms
water, about twenty-five yards to the north-east of the Challenger
Rock, which is nearly awash, and is situated near the north-western
termination of Sea Reef; extending a mile and a quarter in a north
west direction from the north-west point of Garden Island. This buoy
is visible from a ship's deck, through a spy-glass, at the distance of
five or six miles, and is a principal object to be made out by a ship
approaching the channel between Carnac and Garden Islands.
Stags Beacon, painted black, is placed about three furlongs in the
direction of S. 65° E. (magnetic) from the Challenger buoy, in five
fathoms water, about five yards to the N. N. W. of a small rock, with
onlysix or seven feet water upon it. This rock is the northernmost
of many which rise out of five and six fathoms water, and from a reef
called the " Stags."
Mid Beacon, painted white, is situated opposite to the Challenger
buoy, in nearly four fathoms water, and in a line with the outer small
island off the south point of Carnac, towards which it is intended
shortly to remove it about eighty yards, into three fathoms on the
southern edge of Middle Shoal. Mid Beacon will then float at the
distance of 100 yards to the S. S. W. of eight and nine feet water on
the Middle Shoal.
Flat Ledge Beacon, painted white, is placed in three fathoms and
a half water, about 130 yards N. W. by W. from the Flat Ledge, a
small reef, covered by only six feet water. This beacon will be
shortly removed into three fathoms, about 130 yards in a south-east
direction, to the south side of the Flat Ledge.
A ship may safely enter Cockburn Sound by passing to the north of
the Challenger Buoy and Stags Beacon, and to the south of the Mid
and Flat Ledge Beacons ; steering S. E. by E. f E. in Mid-channel.
This course may be prolonged until the Flat Ledge and Mid Beacons
are brought in a line ; then haul up to the east, until the largest rock

181
of the Stragglers, appearing as two small hammocks, comes in sight
round the north-east point of Carnac. This will clear the north-east
spit, which extends three quarters of a mile from the north-east point
of Garden Island, and a course may then be shaped for any part of
the Sound.
To seaward of the Challenger, the principal dangers to be avoided
are situated on the Five Fathoms Bank, and consist of Seaward Reef,
a small patch, six or seven feet under water, about three miles and a
quarter W. by N. (magnetic) from the north end of Carnac ; and the
Casuarina Shoal, with one and two fathoms upon it, about two miles
and a half of W. i N. from the north-west point of Garden Island.
Further to the south lies Coventry Reef, a small patch of rocks just
awash, bearing S 181° W., and distant eight miles from some re
markable sand-hills on the coast near the middle of Garden Island,
called " Sandown."
Lambert Channel, through which his Majesty's ship Alligator got
to sea from Owen's Anchorage on the 19th of December, is a valuable
outlet to sea or to Cockburn Sound, from Owen's Anchorage or
Gage's Roads, without passing round Rottnest Island, which, during
strong northerly winds that would distress a ship in either of these
situations, may be considered almost impracticable. In the absence
of means at the present time for buoying this channel, it may bs found
by keeping the summit of Buckland Downs a very little open to the
south of the Mewstone, in the direction of N. E. | E. and S. W. f W.
(magnetic). This mark will carry a ship through in not less than four
fathoms, and about 100 yards to the northward of a small rock four or
five feet under water, which is detached about a cable's length to the
north-east of the breakers on the western bank, and is called the Pas
sage Rock. At a cable's length to the north-west of it is a small
patch of two fathoms and three-quarters. A ship must pass between
them in four to five fathoms water, and then haul up to the W. by S.
to avoid a small shoal spot with 3^ upon it.
The soundings will then quickly deepen to 7, 5, 6, 8, and 9
fathoms, and a course may be shaped to pass half a raile to the west
ward of the Challenger Buoy. This channel being narrow, and not
yet buoyed off, should not be attempted by a stranger without pre
viously securing a boat or conspicuous cask near the Passage Rock,
and another near the patch of two fathoms and three-quarters to the
north-westward of it.
K 2

132
Medina Beacon, painted red, and the Alligator Beacon, white,
point out the channel into Owen's Anchorage. The former is placed
in four fathoms water, on the northern edge of the Parmelia Bank,
which extends from Woodman's Point to Carnac ; and the Alligator
Beacon is in five fathoms water, on the southern spit of the Success
Bank. They are nearly a mile apart, in a line between Fremantle
and the Haycock on Garden Island, with seven to nine fathoms water
between them. A ship should steer between them, and, after passing
over a bank of three fathoms water, bring up about a mile from the
shore, and nearly the same distance to the south-eastward of a beacon
which has been placed in two fathoms water, at fifty yards to the west
ward of the fish-rocks. Should this beacon disappear, the Fish-rocks
may be found by keeping the largest Seal-rock on with the south-end
of the Mewstone, and bringing the extremity of Rous Head in a line
with a conspicuous large sand patch on the coast to the northward.
The Snapper Buoy and Pointer Beacon, as represented in the
printed chart of 1831, have not been laid down, in consequence of
the channel between Carnac and the Western Bank, for which they
were intended as leading marks, having been found too intricate for
general use, until means are available for marking off some of the
principal dangers in it. The same cause has superseded the present
necessity for placing the Basket Beacon at Second Head, and the
Brothers Beacon at Beacon Head ; nor has it been considered neces
sary at present to place the Spit Beacon off the north-east point of
Garden Island, the foregoing directions for avoiding it being amply
sufficient for keeping a ship out of danger in that quarter.

APPENDIX, No. V.

Swan-River Mission.

In the course ofthe past year a few friends of Missions in Glasgow,
sensible of the claims which the natives of Western Australia have on
them, proposed to the Church Missionary Society to send a missionary
there, and that the expense of the station should be borne by them-

133
selves and other friends interested in the object. The same proposal
was repeated last winter by persons in Dublin anxious to promote the
same cause, but the Society declined both proposals, assigning as a
reason that they had chosen China, as the next station to which they
proposed to extend their operations.
The failure of these applications has led to the formation in Dublin
of a Society called " The Swan River Mission," having for its object
the sending out missionaries of the Church of England, and also
schoolmasters, to the Aborigines and the colonists. The committee
of this Society are now occupied in looking out for suitable persons
to send thither in those capacities.
Messrs. F. and C. E. Mangles, East India Agents, Austin Friars,
London, on hearing a short time since of the existence of the Society,
liberally offered them a free passage for a missionary ; and as the
author is persuaded there are many persons in the United Kingdom
who would, in a similar spirit, extend a helping hand to the Society,
he hopes this publication may be instrumental in bringing such
individuals acquainted with it.
Its committee is composed of the Rev. Messrs. Irwin (of Sandford
Chapel), Lloyd, and Marks (chaplains of Molyneux's Asylum), and the
Rev. H. Verschoyle (Chaplain of the South Penitentiary) ; together
with the following lay-members : A. Ferrier, Pollock, Kincaid, and
Churchill (M. D.), Esqrs. Secretary, the Rev. Hamilton Verschoyle,
No. 2, Pembroke-place. The committee are thus particularized, as
their names will be a sufficient guarantee for the character of the
Society, with all who are acquainted with the religious and benevolent
institutions of Dublin.
Postscript. — Since the above was in type, the author has learned
from the Secretary, that unforeseen difficulties have arisen in the way of
the Committee, while endeavouring to carry out their plans, and that
they have come to the opinion that London would be the most suitable
place for the position of the Parent Society. At the same time they
express their perfect readiness to co-operate, to the utmost of their
power, as a branch society ; and offer, as a proof of their zeal in the
cause, to engage for the raising of the sum of 100/. towards the pur
pose originally contemplated.

134

APPENDIX, No. VI.

Proposals por the Erection of a Church and Parsonage at
Augusta, Western Australia. — Contributions Sixpence each.
" A Lady, warmly interested in the welfare of relations and friends,
settled at the above-named Colony, is extremely anxious that they, and
the respectable community to which they belong, should not, in giving
up the many advantages of their native land, be deprived of its most
precious privilege — the means and opportunity of religious worship
and instruction. In order to promote their attainment of this bless
ing, she has undertaken to raise a subscription for the erection of a
Church, on the principles of the Establishment and under episcopal
jurisdiction, and a residence for a minister of the Church of England.
She has limited the sum to be contributed to sixpence, not only
because she trusts to find it sufficient, but that it overcomes any reluc
tance she might otherwise experience in making her solicitations for
this distant though promising part of our empire— to feel she is asking
for that which it can inconvenience none to bestow, however numerous
and extensive may be their charities.
It is calculated that 5001. will be sufficient for the above-mentioned
purpose. Subscriptions will be received by the Rev. Thomas Dale, M. A.,
Minister of St. Matthew's Chapel, Denmark Hill, and Evening Lec
turer of St. Sepulchre's, London ; and by John Cole Symes, Esq.,
Fenchurch Street, London ; by Lawrence Desborough, Esq., Grove
Hill, Camberwell ; and George Spence, Esq., Jesus College, Cam
bridge."

APPENDIX, No. VII.

Native Institution. -
With a view to try the experiment of civilizing the natives in the
neighbourhood of Perth, — the plan will of course be extended to other
districts where its beneficial effects have been made apparent, — his

135
Excellency, the Governor, has been pleased to appoint Mr. F. Arm
strong interpreter, with a limited salary, at present; but it will be
subject to further improvement in proportion to the increased utility
of the institution. Mr. Armstrong brings to the task a considerable
knowledge of the native language, obtained through several years of
diligent inquiry, and frequent association with the natives in their pri
mitive haunts ; we are gratified, therefore, to find so judicious a
selection made, and are disposed to augur favourably of this further
attempt at conciliation, under the direction of one who has hitherto
voluntarily devoted his time to the acquirement of the native language,
and has zealously sought an intimate acquaintance with the habits and
manners of the tribes around us.
A slight sketch of the proposed system to be adopted may not be
unacceptable to our readers ; we shall therefore glance over a few of
the principal heads. At the outset the natives are to understand that
they are to procure their own means of subsistence, either by the re
muneration they may derive from work or labour performed for indi
viduals, or by the exercise of their own native arts, such as fishing,
hunting, &c. It does not form any part of the intended plan to main
tain the natives at the public expense, or support them in a state of
indolence, — a boat will be provided for them, for the purpose of fish
ing, and any surplus quantity they may have will be disposed of for their
benefit, under the direction of Mr. Armstrong. They will not be
subject to any restraint, but have free ingress and egress, at all times,
to such grounds as may be set apart for them ; we believe it is in
contemplation to devote the grounds under Mount Eliza to that pur
pose, to which they can have access without passing through the town.
The advantages the natives will have in attaching themselves to the
institution, will be — protection from violence, whether from each
other or from white people, medical aid in time of sickness, and a
regular supply of food ensured by cautious guidance and a provident
superintendence ; which it is hoped will gradually bring ihem to a
more civilized and happier state of existence.
The following we believe to be the substance of the objects to which
it is the desire of his Excellency that the interpreter should direct the
attention of the natives : —
1st. That the Government is actuated, in forming this institution,
by a disposition to do the natives a good.
2nd. That Mr. Armstrong, understanding the native language, and

136
being a friend to the natives, has been appointed to reside with such
of them as may please to live at Mount Eliza Bay.
3rd. That the Governor has given a boat for their use in fishing.
4th. That when they have fish to spare, Mr. Armstrong will help
them to dispose of it for flour or money.
5th. That when they are sick, Mr. Armstrong will take them to the
doctor to be cured.
6th. That they will be shown how to build huts for themselves.
7th. That as long as they behave well they shall not be molested by
any one, whether black or white ; and if they are, the Governor will
take their part.
Sth. That they are to employ and maintain themselves by fishing,
or such other work as Mr. Armstrong may point out; and that if
they do not procure enough for their own supply, they must go
without. 9th. That if they like to go away from Eliza Bay, they may always
do so, and come back at their pleasure : but while there they must be
have well, and do as Mr. Armstrong directs them ; and if they are
not well conducted, Mr. Armstrong will not let them remain there. —
From the W. A. Journal of Dec. 13, 1834.

APPENDIX, No. VIII.

Extraordinary Recovery of a Child by the Swan-River Natives.
About half-past seven o'clock on the evening of the llth ult.,
it was reported to Mr. Norcott that one of Mr. Hall's children,
a boy, between five and six years of age, was missing, and that
he had not been seen since one o'clock on that day, when his
brother left him on the beach looking at some soldiers who were
fishing there. The natural conclusion was, that the child had
mistaken his path on returning home, and had wandered into the
bush. Immediate search was made, conceiving that he could not
have gone far from the settlement, and was kept up for two hours,
indeed until the darkness of the night compelled the party to relin
quish all hope of finding him. At four o'clock the next morning.

137
Mr. Norcott, accompanied by Corporal Blyth, of the 21st regiment.
Smith, of the Police, and the two natives, Migo and Molly-dobbin,
who are now attached to the Mounted Police Corps, set out to renew
the search, fully calculating upon finding the little boy in less than an
hour. They soon came upon the track where he had been the pre
ceding day, and pursued it for some distance to the northward, when
it was lost to all but the natives, who, notwithstanding the wind had
been blowing very fresh, and had rendered the traces imperceptible to
an unpractised eye, still continued to follow them up, along the beach,
for about four miles, when they intimated that he had turned into the
bush. Here they still followed him into an almost impenetrable
thicket, through which they said he must have crawled on his hands
and knees. Their progress was now very slow, in consequence of the
thick bush, and the difficulty of perceiving the track on the loose sand ;
but the acuteness of the natives, who are certainly most astonishingly
gifted, led them through it, and in about an hour's time they regained
the beach, the boy having made a circuit inland of about 400 yards.
The track was now more strongly marked, and was perceptible to the
whole party, continuing so over a space of about five miles, occasion
ally turning in and out of the bush. At the end of about nine miles
further the natives were quite at fault, owing to his having left the
beach and entered a thicket, which it was with difficulty they could
push themselves through ; they, however, persevered, and delighted
the party, by every now and then crying out, " Me meyal geena,"
meaning, " 1 see the foot-marks." Mr. Norcott, who was on horse
back, finding great difficulty in passing through the scrub, took a po
sition on a high hill, overlooking the interesting progress of the na
tives in the hollow below. They were then making their way throagh
a perfect mass of matted bush; and Mr. Norcott informs us, sueh was
the apparent difficulty in tracking the child, that he was about tu
despair of success, when, to his astonishment, they held up a cap,
which was known to belong to the boy. This circumstance cheered
them in their pursuit, and about half an hour afterwards the track
directed them again to the beach. They proceeded until they reached
the Sand Cliffs, about ten or twelve miles from Clarence, one native
continuing to walk a little way in the bush, in order to be certain that
the boy had not crossed, or left the beach, and the other remaining
with the party on the beach. Here it was ascertained he had again
taken to the bush, and they found no difficulty in tracking him until

138
they came to an elevated spot, where the wind had entirely effaced
the marks of his feet. This was a most anxious momeijt, as even the
natives seemed to be doubtful whether they would again discover the
track. Migo, however, descended the hill, persisting in search along
the plains inland, and, after having made a circuit of about half a
mile, was once more fortunate to fall in with the track ; but notwith
standing they had found it, they were sorely perplexed to retain it,
and were kept near the spot for two hours, off and on, losing and
again discovering it. The party had nearly given up all hope of seeing
the child, when Molly-dobbin pointed out the track on the side of a
deep ravine. They were then about 600 yards from the beach. The
natives then went down into the ravine, and commenced hallooing,
thinking that the child might be asleep in the bush, and still perse
vered in pressing through the thickest scrub, and the most difficult
country to penetrate through which they had yet passed ; in a short
time they once more found themselves on the beach ; and observing,
by the tracks, that the child had evidently been there within a very
short period, they journeyed on with a better hope of obtaining their
object, and restoring the lost child to his afflicted parents. No sooner
were these feelings of gratification excited, at viewing the recent foot
steps, than, at a distance of about three hundred yards, the child was
seen lying on the beach, its legs washed by the surf, and apparently
in a state of insensibility. Mr. Norcott galloped up to him, and,
calling him by name, the boy awoke and instantly jumped up. Ano
ther hour, and probably the child would have perished, as the waves
were rapidly gaining on him. The joy and delight of the two natives
is represented to have been beyond all conception ; and their steady
perseverance, Mr. Norcott says, was beyond any thing he could have
anticipated from them : and really, when it is considered that they
walked a distance of nearly twenty-two miles, with their eyes, for ten
hours, constantly fixed upon the ground, and at the same time evincing
the most intense anxiety to be instrumental in rescuing the child from
its impending fate, we cannot but esteem the act, and highly applaud
the noble disposition of these two savages.
Mr. Norcott took the child up, and placing him on the horse before
him, the party made for the nearest road home, where they arrived
about nine o'clock at night, having been over a distance of thirty-nine
miles, after being out seventeen hours, without the slightest refresh
ment.

139
It is certainly surprising that the child should have got so far, in
the manner he must have been frequently compelled to force himself
through the bush. He is not three feet high. His clothes were much
torn, and his body was covered with scratches and bruises.
Mr. Norcott, in speaking of the conduct of the natives, conceives
that he cannot too highly commend their behaviour, and adduces this
circumstance as an instance of the great advantage derived from hav
ing these two natives, Migo and Molly-dobbin, permanently attached
to the Corps. — Extract from the W. A. Journal of Jan. 3, 1835.

APPENDIX, No. IX.

Government Notice.
Perth, August 22, 1834.
Instructions having been received by me from his Majesty's
Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies to appoint Mr. W. H.
Mackie as Commissioner of the Civil Court, under an arrangement
made by authority of his Majesty's Government for consolidating in
one individual the two offices of Criminal and Civil Judge, hitherto
held respectively by Mr. W. H. Mackie, as Chairman of the Quarter
Sessions, and by Mr. G. F. Moore, as Civil Commissioner ; the ces
sation of Mr. Moore's duties in the Civil Court, pursuant to those
instructions, affords me the opportunity of expressing in the most
public manner my unqualified approbation of his conduct while he has
held that office. Qualified no less by education than by natural
talent and temper for administering justice with wisdom and integrity,'
the necessity which has led to this discontinuance of Mr. Moore's
duties in the Civil Court will be duly appreciated by the public at
large, no less than by myself ; and he will have the satisfaction of
carrying with him, into whatever employment, whether of a public or
private nature, which he may undertake, not only the consciousness of
high desert, but of knowing, from this public testimony to his merit,
the esteem in which he is held by me, as the chief authority in this
settlement. (Signed) James Stirling,
By His Excellency's Command. Governor.
(Signed) Peter Brown, Colonial Secretary.

140

APPENDIX, No. X.

Profits op Sheep Farming.
(This Arl'icle originaUy appeared in the Cape Advertiser, and is now
copied from the Western Australian Journal of Nov, 29, 1834.)
The sheep of this colony (the Cape) have hitherto been reared chiefly
for food. But as, with little or no care, they increase much faster than
the human race, and as their flesh, being impatient of salt, is unfit for
exportation, this article of produce, though most agreeable to the con
sumer, has long since ceased to hold out any great prospects of wealth
to the producer. Genuine Cape sheep, with their thin wiry hair, may
be purchased in any numbers from the distant farmers for Is. 6d. to
2s. a head. * * * *
The total number of these sheep in the colony may be taken at two
millions, and using round nurabers, we may take their value at the
same number of rix-doilars, or 150,000/.
The manufacture of woollen cloth frora the wool of pure Cape
sheep is unknown. A small quantity has lately been forced into the
service of the hatter, and the reraainder has either been suffered to
rot where it was shed, or entombed in the uncomfortable mattress, or
the pack-saddle of the horse, ass, or ox. It was- unfit for any market.
Some improvement in this branch of agriculture has lately been
effected; but in 1830 the total quantity of wool exported from this
fine grazing colony, admirably adapted to the construction and habits
of the animal, was 33,407 lbs., at an average price of lOd. per lb. ;
so that the whole crop of wool did not exceed in value the sum of
1,475/. 5s. lOd.
In New South Wales the climate and face of the country, in their
adaptation to the rearing of sheep, very much resemble those of the
Cape. We believe no difference exists in any point considerable
enough to establish a claim of superiority on either side. And up to
1 81 6 so little sensible were the stockholders of New South Wales of
the capabilities of their country, with respect to the production of
wool for exportation, that we find Mr. Riley, an able and zealous im
prover, strenuously urging them to " a consideration of the obvious

141
propriety of transforming the hair that disgraced so many of their
sheep into golden fleeces." The total export of wool for that year
amounted to no more than about 80,000 lbs. But at that raoment the
spirit of improvement seems to have caught the whole agricultural
population, and the following facts will give our readers some notion
what miracles a whole population can perform, when they act in con
cert and from upright principles.
In 1816, as we have seen, the quantity of wool exported from New
South Wales was about 80,000 lbs., more or less.
In 1822 it amounted to . . 125,000 lbs.
In 1825 it was  411,000
In 1828 it had increased to 834,343
In 1830 it exceeded  991,000
And in 1834 it is estimated at 2,700,000 !
Nothing in the history of agriculture has been known parallel to
this — except in the neighbouring colony Van Diemen's Land, into
which sheep were introduced for the first time in 1826. Indeed it was
only discovered to be an island in 1 798, and taken possession of by
the British in 1803. In 1830 the population, exclusive of a few
savage natives, amounted to only 21,125, of whom about 10,000 were
convicts. And what quantity of wool did these 11,125 recent free
settlers export to the United Kingdom in 1830, only twenty-seven
years after the foundation of the colony ? No less than 993,979 lbs. !
By the above statement we see that the quantity of wool exported
from New South Wales, since 1822, has been more than doubled every
three years. But its improvement in quality has not been less admi
rable. In 1816 it was described by Mr. Riley as " hair which dis
graced the sheep." In 1820 a few bales of wool from Mr. Mac-
arthur's flock sold in England at 5s. 6d. per lb., and one at 10s. 4d. !
The common price was 2s. In 1830 the Australian wool sold in the
London market at the following prices, viz. : —
Best, 2s. to 5s. ; second and inferior. Is. 2d. to 2s. ; lamb's, Is. 2d.
to 2s. Id.
The whole of the enormous quantity they now export, it is ex
pected, will realize an average price of 2s. per lb., which will give for
the crop of 1834 the sum of 270,000/.
With respect to the number of sheep from whose backs this pro
digious sum of money is annually extracted, we have, at the moment,
no certain information of later date than 1828. But as from 1819 to

142
1828 they h^d increased from 75,369 to 556,391, we may safely esti
mate their present number to be about two millions.
The sound of these words brings our thoughts back to the Cape.
We have about two millions of sheep ; but the wool exported this year
will probably not exceed 100,000 lbs., nor realize a higher sum than
7000/. For what purpose are these statements submitted to our readers ?
Not to vex them by any humiliating contrast, but to encourage thera
by a splendid example of successful industry, which they have now the
opportunity and raeans to imitate, and perhaps surpass. Only four
teen years ago the wool exported from both the Australian colonies did
not exceed in quantity that which we now raise. They had to import
the Merino breed from Europe to improve their coarse and inferior
flocks, exposed to a voyage twice as long as, and more than doubly
hazardous that, our imports have to encounter. We have a more
abundant population, labour cheaper, and most certainly not of a
worse description, and every thing else at least equally favourable.
And we have at the present moment in prospect two additional advan
tages which render our position decidedly superior to theirs.
In the first place, an addition is about to be made to the capital of
the colony, not as a balance for exports, the produce of many years'
labour — but an absolute addition, without any equivalent being ren
dered to the source from which it comes — of probably not less than
1,200,000/. sterling, or about eight times the value of all the sheep at
present in the colony !
In the next place, we have discovered a market where we can be
supplied with sheep of equal if not superior quality, at nearly one half
the distance, and at a much cheaper rate than in Europe. This is no
other than New South Wales itself, which has already begun to export
these valuable animals ; and from the largeness of the stock and the
rapidity with which they increase, constantly doubling their numbers
in about two years and a half, there is no risk in our demand, how
ever extensive, making any sensible impression on their means of sup
plying us.
The first investment has already arrived in Cape Town. It consists
of thirty males of the pure Saxon breed, selected from the flock of
Alexander Riley, Esq., of Raby.
The history of this Saxon breed is also worthy of notice, as it affords
another instance of the wonderful results of sheep farming. They

143
come originally from Spain, where they are called Merinos. The late
King of Saxony, when elector, was the first who introduced them into
his dominions. He purchased a small flock from the King of Spain,
and exerted so rauch diligence and care in promoting their growth,
that they soon succeeded better in Germany than in Spain itself.
In the London market, in March 1832, the best Saxon wool of the
Electoral flocks, sold at from 4s. to 6s. 6d. per lb. ; while the best
Spanish wool, the Leonesa, fetched no more than frora 2s. to 2s. 9d.
And as to their increase, the following fact may suffice: — In 1830
there were imported from Germany into the British market alone,
26,073,82^ lbs ; while the quantity imported from Spain did not ex
ceed 1,643,515 lbs.
Indeed the Merino seems to improve by every removal from its
native soil and climate. Even in England, the climate of which forms
a perfect, and to sheep a most severe, contrast with that of Spain, the
Merinos not only thrive but improve, both in the carcass and in the
quality of their wool. And we have already seen that in ] 820 Mr.
Macarthur obtained the highest price ever known in the London mar
ket, for a bale of wool taken from Merinos in New South Wales.
Thus, if the scheme we now recoraraend, obtain the approbation of
our fellow-colonists, we shall probably lay a better foundation for our
future flocks, which are to constitute the wealth and power of the
colony, than has ever yet been laid in any country. Our breed — the
future Cape breed of sheep— will have proceeded from Spain to
Saxony, from Saxony to Australia, and from Australia to South Africa
— improving at every stage.
These sheep we have seen, in a climate in every respect the same
as ours, double their numbers in every two years and a half, more or
less. In 1838i we shall, therefore, have 200,000 sheep. In 1841
we shall have 400,000. In 1843i they will have increased to 800,000.
In 1846 to 1,600,000. In lvS48i, or say in 1850, we shall have
three millions and two hundred thousand sheep, bearing fleeces
of the finest quality in the world, bringing into the colony an annual
return of not less than 350,000/ , independently of their skins and
tallow. Is this extravagant ? Look at Australia. It has been accomplished
there, as it were, under our own eyes, in less than eighteen years,
though means and resources there, compared with what ours will be,
were as but one to ten.

London: Printed by Mills and Son,
Gofigh Square, Fleet Street.

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